Coroner's or newspaper report

[ctrunfree]

Hi everyone

The death certificate for my grandfather Wilfred NEAL (who collapsed and died near his home in Birdwell Yorkshire after coming home from Barnsley Market) states that he died on 9 Dec 1939 of "sudden heart failure the cause of which is not shewn by the evidence".  The certificate also notes that a report was received from the Deputy Coroner of the West Riding, SHB Gill, of an inquest held on 18 December 1939.

I wonder if anyone could give me some idea about whethr it would be possible to find the Coroner's report online?  I'd also appreciate any assistance in finding any contemporary newspaper reports of the event.

[ScobieDrom]

I recently wrote to the Coroner for Worcestershire seeking information about my great grandmother who was the subject of an inquest.  I knew from her death certificate that there had been an inquest and I had also seen two newspaper reports of her death.  The reply I received said that "Coroner's records are sometimes available to family members of the deceased, however The Freedom of Information Act does not provide an entitlement to this information."  "Records, where available only have to be maintained for a period of 15 years, although sometimes they are kept for longer."

Newspaper reports of the time that the event happened are usually a good source of information.  Libraries and record offices local to Birdwell, Yorkshire may well hold information. 

[ctrunfree]

Thanks ScobieDrom.  The local record offices are a bit of a trip from Australia, unfortunately.

Would the local newspaper most likely to report such an event be the Barnsley Chronicle?

[ScobieDrom]

In the first instance try Barnsley Archives and Discovery Centre:  Archives@barnsley.gov.uk

If you detail your request I'm sure they will point you in the right direction.

[ctrunfree]

Thanks, I'll give them a try.

[dobfarm]

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

[ctrunfree]

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

Unfortunately they don't seen to have the Chronicle for that period.

[TheIrishDescendant]

hi how did you seem to get on with mr Gills records ? he also did the inquest in my grandfathers death and i would love to view his inquest records.

[ctrunfree]

No luck I'm afraid.  Life got in the way of further digging.