Durham Record Office - take a bow!

[Tickettyboo]

I wanted a marriage record, GRO would cost £11 and take about a week.

Ok I know it was a parish marriage and have the date and venue.

12 mins past 1,  I sent off a Quick search request costs £5

29 mins past 2, a scan from a microfilm, perfectly readable, dropped into my inbox

Got to love them ! Really worth bearing in mind if anyone wants a marriage record and they know the parish.

Boo

[ThrelfallYorky]

How nice to hear this.

[emeltom]

I've emailed them a couple of times with queries and they have always been quick to reply, free of charge as well.

[Tickettyboo]

I've emailed them a couple of times with queries and they have always been quick to reply, free of charge as well.

That, and the fact that I can get marriages in parish registers a lot cheaper than the GRO- AND get original signatures on the record (as long as they were able to sign) is one of the reasons they are my first choice for marriage records especially.
Plus councils have been strapped for cash for years. The current epidemic means they are even more strapped for cash and archives are way down on the list of priorities. If I can help by ordering from then where  possible, I do.

Doing my best for Northumberland Archives too :-)

Boo

[ThrelfallYorky]

Whitehaven's pretty good too. -Is it a northern thing, do you think?
TY

[emeltom]

Could well be. I  had similar help from Stockport as well.

[Tickettyboo]

Don't know if the northern part of the country is any better or worse than anywhere else, I've had help from all over the UK but I have more experience of archives/libraries/cemetery depts etc etc in Durham and Northumberland as they are my main area of interest :-)

I had super help from the Sunderland Local History Library last week, the lady who dealt with my query went above and beyond the main query for me.

On the whole I find that people in general are helpful, just look at Rootschat - the kindness of strangers is wonderful.

Boo