Westminster images disappeared from FindMyPast?

[Tickettyboo]

It wasn't me Jonw65
cuffie81 supplied the info :-)

Boo

[Bookbox]

Can anyone shed light on the story behind this movement of the Westminster material from FindMyPast to Ancestry?

Word on the street (unverified) is that FindMyPast’s contract ran out, and Ancestry outbid them for renewal, offering re-digitisation from the originals rather than from the films, many of which are very poor. (FindMyPast are currently far more interested in providing US records, to support their pitch into that market.)

The problem is that Ancestry will take their time uploading the Westminster images, probably mistranscribing many of them, grouping them illogically, and labelling them incorrectly, if past performance with the LMA records is anything to go by.

Meanwhile, we have lost online access to many Westminster parishes, rate books, early poor law administration records etc. So anyone who subscribed to FindMyPast specifically for the Westminster records is probably justified in complaining to them (for all the good it will do).

[jonw65]

cuffie81 supplied the info :-)

Oh, my goodness. So sorry, thank you cuffie!
(And thanks for telling me, Boo)
John

[horselydown86]

Thanks to all for the responses to my question.

Word on the street (unverified) is that FindMyPast’s contract ran out, and Ancestry outbid them for renewal, offering re-digitisation from the originals rather than from the films, many of which are very poor.

Just thinking aloud here, but I can't imagine that CWA would have entertained any kind of bid from FindMyPast for renewal.  Why would they do business with FindMyPast when FindMyPast have had their records since 2012 and put only a fraction online?  (And been as grudging and dismissive on the subject to customers as they could possibly be.  All enquiries to FindMyPast over actually posting the advertised records were met with ...in the coming months.)

Generally, I'm still hopeful that in time this move will prove to be a step forward, although the loss of St Margaret's is deeply saddening.

[hurworth]

I've had a look there and think they've missed this particular parish.

St Paul, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge

It's now appeared at Ancestry. 

[cuffie81]

WDYTYA magazine has a post today about the move to Ancestry, with some details about records we might see in future.

Westminster family history records move from Findmypast to Ancestry
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/westminster-family-history-records-ancestry-findmypast/

[horselydown86]

Thank you for the link, cuffie.  The third last paragraph contains good news.

[josey]

I knew I had read this thread on rootschat a while ago!! Has anyone heard talk of the images of the 1821 & 1831 Marylebone census which used to be on Findmypast [and are still referred to in the description see below] are likely to be restored by ancestry? I have emailed ancestry with no response so probably not. Ancestry don't have the indexes online either.

[Ladyhawk]

This is all I can see for Westminster records on Anc*y not that this is much help with your query Josey 

Recently Added and Updated Collections

NEW  - 27/01/2021
Westminster, London, England, Non-Conformist Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1841-1964

NEW - 19/10/2020
Westminster London, England, Church of England Deaths & Burials 1812-1910
Westminster London, England, Church of England Marriages & Banns 1754-1935
Westminster London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages & Burials 1558-1812
Westminster, London, England, Church of England Baptism, Marriages & Burials 1538-1812