I'm on my way from over the pond!! Where do I start looking?

[granger]

I am coming over from the USA for a short holiday and will be spending two days in Newcastle upon Tyne. I wish to obtain marriage certificates and check some early census records but I am confused about where to start my search.   Because I only have two days I want to get as much done as possible.    I have read the GENUKI Northumberland site but I can't decide if I need to be in Morpeth, Melton Park or the city Library for census returns. My relatives where all born and married in Newcastle.  Any tips on planning my visit.   Regards June

[casalguidi]

Hi June

You can check out the Newcastle City Library website for their holdings:

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries1.nsf/689bc501c26212e580256688005190e6/f6550379b672e5e780256c130039b013!OpenDocument

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[Wendi]

Personally I would have thought it would be easier for you to obtain marriage certificates on-line via

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

If you want to obtain marriage certificates from the Local Registrar, you'll probably have to write a request, visit the Local Registry Office, pay cash,  unless you have a Pounds Sterling checking account.  plead with them to send them abroad for you, which means the staff have to go to the local post office, que (we are good at that here) get your envelope weighed and obtain the appropriate stamps, and out of the goodness of their hearts pop them into the mail box for you.

Wendi

[Paul E]

Hi

This site has searchable bmd records held by Newcastle City Council:

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/bsearch.nsf/bsearch?openform

cheers

Paul

[granger]

Thanks for your replies...the city library looks to be my best bet for census returns and then I will check out the registrars office......complete with stamped adressed envelopes...Regards June

[John W H]

For BMDs at the Civic Centre I ordered 3 yesterday afternoon at 3.30pm and they came with the first post at 6.45am this morning.   You can also order them and pick them up the next day but its best to print off the request form from the civic centre search site and have everyything ready.

Dont forget the Tyne and Wear Archives, its amazing what you can find there.   I just do the searches at home and then take in a print of each document you want to see and they get the stuff from the archives pretty quick.   One tip is to take a digital camera to take pics of everything you want as they charge £5 for each scan especially for photos and largish docs.   They have no problems with you taking photos of documents you request.

[granger]

Thanks John, I will take a camera as you suggest  and I did print the offical forms in advance with all the relevent info so it may be quicker than I thought......I may have time to visit  Marks & Spencer after all.  Regards June

[John W H]

Marks and Sparks is only 3 mins walk from the Civic Centre with a nice pub about halfway.

[Wendi]

John now that's what I call service!  Wish I was researching in NewCastle

granger,  hope you really enjoy your time here, and don't forget they talk kinda funny in Newcastle but you'll get one of the warmest welcomes around!