To put another twist on it, i have in the past paid barnardo's, some was found and some not,
i looked at it that they are still in the business if caring for kids so the ££'s were at least being well spent,
i just thought of it that way to justify the cost, although i am pretty sure i paid £15 initial search and then ABOUT £45.
You also have to remember that they have to go through these files ie not just copy them,
as they have to protect any other kids/people that maybe mentioned so other names have to be censored,
so the papers have to be carefully scrutinised, I suppose if it was one of your grandparents it maybe easier to make the call, i assume it was one of your grandparents siblings?
MAYBE it could hold a snippet of info' that relates to them, and again only my own view i was just glad the info' was there.
one of my uncles was in the norwood home and we recently got his file well a few sheets of papers lol,
but it was so interesting, ie when he entered and left, trouble he got into
also it gave info about his fathers income and why he was placed in there, as i say i can't tell you how important the info is to you or the family, but in my case i sent the ££s and forgot about it and didn't think would it be worth it, otherwise you maybe disappointed with what you receive