Welcome to your Lancashire

Online Reference Library (OnRL)

Our Online Reference Library is a selection of 100s of websites chosen, organised and maintained by library professionals to answer your questions. Resources marked with * can only be accessed within a Lancashire Library.

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Your search for History and Heritage produced 218 results:

See a list of subcategories for History and Heritage

 

This collection, created by RLUK with funding from the JISC Digitisation Programme, contains the most significant British pamphlets from the 19th century held in UK research libraries. Pamphlets were an important means of public debate, covering the key political, social, technological, and environmental issues of their day. Previously difficult to access, digitised copies are now available online for private study and non-commercial use only. Find out more about the collection. Please note: this is the only part of the JSTOR collection available via the OnRL.
NEW! You now have access to a new improved version of Ancestry, the largest online library of family history information, available free from the Peoples Network PCs in Lancashire Archives and Libraries. The collection includes Census Records, Birth Marriage and Death Indexes, Military records, Immigration and Emigration, and many more public records from the UK and around the world.It is constantly updated and enlarged. Ancestry create their own indexes, so you may be able to find records that were missing on other websites.
Black History Month is held in October each year to celebrate the great contribution the presence of the afro-caribbean, african and asian communities has made to British culture over the last two thousand years. This link will take you to a number of websites providing information and resources on Black British history and Black History Month 2010.
This collection contains British phone books published between 1880, the year after the public telephone service was introduced to the UK, and 1984, from the historic phone book collection held by BT Archives. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library on the People's Network Computers.
This Guide complements our Book Catalogue and gives details of many sources in different formats which are available in the community history collections throughout the area covered by Lancashire County Library, including newspapers, parish records, council minutes, maps and many other sources to help with your family and local history research.
This is the online version of this definitive biographical work from Oxford University Press. It is an illustrated collection of more than 50,000 specially written biographies of the men and women who shaped all aspects of Britain's past, from the fourth century BC to the present day. This is a service that Lancashire Library subscribe to. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
This PDF booklet, produced by Lancashire Libraries and Record Office,gives useful advice on research and provides a guide to the available sources of information for your search and where to find them in Lancashire, around the world and on the internet.
from Lancashire Registration Services offers advice on how to obtain birth, marriage and death certificates online, by phone, by mail or in person.
The web site of Lancashire County Council's Museums Service. It gives contact and location details for all the museums, information on exhibitions and events etc.
Search the LRO’s holdings of Anglican (Church of England) parish registers and bishop's transcripts. This site is the updated version of the printed Finding Folk handlist. It acts as an index to the Lancashire Parish Register Society (LPRS) transcribed volumes.
Lancashire Library's Blog for Community History Month 2010. Posts about fascinating aspects of Lancashire's criminal past from all over the county and links to news, local events and historical resources.
This collection is part of our Lancashire Lantern Image Archive has photographs and images on the theme of Crime and Punishment from our extensive image collections all around the County which are now being digitised and placed online.
This catalogue contains information about the records held at Lancashire record Office in Preston. It is constantly being updated, so if you don’t find what you are looking for try the A2A online database, or contact the record office directly.
The North West Sound Archive was founded in 1979. Its purpose is to record, collect and preserve sound recordings relevant to life in the North West of England. This web page provides some basic background and contact details.
Access reference books on the classical world and classical literature from Oxford University Press. An English-Latin/Latin English dictionary is also included. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
Search a range of titles from Oxford University Press including The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology, The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, A Dictionary of British History, The Oxford Companion to British History, The Kings and Queens of Britain, The Oxford Dictionary of Local and Family History, The Oxford Companion to Military History, The Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science, A Dictionary of Political Biography, Who's Who in the Twentieth Century, The Oxford Companion to World War II. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
Reference works on military history and World War II from Oxford University Press. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
This section of Oxford Reference Online provides Timelines under various themes and for various countries for the 20th Century. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from a Lancashire Library membership card.
Essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the long and fascinating history of black people in the British Isles, The Oxford Companion to Black British History explores the subject from its beginnings in Roman times to the present day. Part of Oxford Reference Online, free to access on any library PC or login using your library number at home.
This collection provides access to thousands of items selected from the John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera, offering unique insights into the changing nature of everyday life in Britain in the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Categories include Nineteenth-Century Entertainment, the Booktrade, Popular Prints, Crimes, Murders and Executions, and Advertising.
This PDF booklet, produced by Lancashire Libraries and Record Office,gives useful advice on research and provides a guide to the available sources of information for your search and where to find them in Lancashire, around the world and on the internet.
The online version of Who's Who, the annual directory directory of the noteworthy and influential, includes the Who's Was Who Archive dating back to 1898. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
The 1911 census service is part of the company Find My Past (and run in association with the National Archive) and, as of June 2009, contains a searchable database of the entire UK 1911 Census. It is possible to search the index for a person or household. This service is free. However, to view ANY actual records requires the purchase of 'credits' and costs between 10-30 credits per record.
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held throughout England (including Lancashire Record Office) and dating from the 900s to the present day. This database was last updated in April 2008 - There is no further programme for the addition of new material to the A2A site. However, it will continue to be available on the Internet, to be searched and referred to, and there will be a facility for existing content to be updated.
The Act of Union Virtual Library is a unique collection of pamphlets, newspapers, parliamentary papers and manuscript material contemporary with the 1800 Act of Union between Ireland and Britain. This free website was set up by various library partners in Northern Ireland with the help of a lottery grant.
This website contains the National Archives BT27 Outward Passenger Lists for long-distance voyages leaving the British Isles from 1960 right back to 1890. There is a charge for retrieving full index information
Explore Eygptian Life, Pharoahs, Gods and Mummies at this interactive site from the British Museum.
Art, Myth, Culture and War in Ancient Greece.
The website of the Anne Frank Trust. As well as extensive information about Anne herself there are also further extensive links to resources covering both the Holocaust specifically and Human Rights generally
The UK Placename Finder is part of the suite of free internet-based tools provided by this Archaeology UK for the communities of field archaeologists, family historians and placename researchers. The internet-based database holds information on the names of more than 160,000 UK places and provides a number of way to find a location.
The Archives Hub provides descriptions of archives held in UK universities and colleges and a number of research institutes and museums. It does not hold any archives but rather provides a means to cross-search descriptions of archives held across the UK.
The is a registered charity founded in 1954 by the late Colonel Robert Ogilby DSO, DL. The "Museum Search" link allows you to find details of regimental museums and the collections they hold. The "Ancestor Research" link also provides advice on using military records for Family History research.
BHM will be featuring heavily the BBC Radio's 1Xtra, with a series of features and programmes throughout the month. As well as features and downloads on the contributions of black musicians to our musical heritage it also has links to black history documentaries and videos.
This archive contains themed collections of historic radio and television recordings which are free to access. A recent edition is an online archive of Elizabeth Windsor in the years leading up to her coronation as Queen Elizabeth II.
This BBC websites provides hints, tips and ideas for those wanting to trace their family history. There is also a tie-in with the "Who do you think you are?" television series.
Hands on History is bringing history to life. Adventure back in time to find out all about Norman life and go Norman spotting where you live - there's a interactive map on find days out and walks in your area, activity packs to download, links to schools resources and BBC programmes.
Fount of information on all sorts of aspects of history. The site is divided into a broad range of topics from Ancient History to Wars and Conflict.
This 12 lesson tutorial from the National Archives website is a beginners' guide to the Latin used in documents between 1086 and 1733. It is the first online tutorial to help you learn the Latin from this period.
Best of History Web Sites is an award-winning portal that contains annotated links to over 1200 history web sites as well as links to hundreds of quality K-12 history lesson plans, history teacher guides, history activities, history games, history quizzes, and more.
The British Film Industry has a webpage dedicated to BHM celebrating with films, events, books & DVDs and other ways to enjoy the work of Black film and TV makers.
The Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) replaced the Royal History Society Bibliography on 1 January 2010. It contains all of the data previously available in the RHS Bibliography. BBIH is the result of a partnership between the Royal Historical Society, the Institute of Historical Research and Brepols Publishers, and is a subscription service, although both the Society and the Institute are making a financial contribution to the Bibliography in order to keep subscriptions as low as possible. Subscriptions are available to institutions and individuals.
This is an US black history site from Biography.com which contains a lot of timelines, images and resources related to black history month.
A website in the UK dedicated to the promotion of Black and Asian British history in schools.The contains a number of resources to assist teachers.
The website of the Black History Month Magazine is an acknowledgment and celebration of diversity and the richness it brings to society – past, present and future. As well as articles on history, arts & culture, entertainment, education and careers amongst, there are listings of events throughout the country.
This site features a wide range of resources sourced by Black History 365 the independent portal celebrating and highlighting Caribbean and African activities, with profiles, articles and news plus an Amazon Store with a range of DVD’s, Books, Music.
is a history site about the contribution of African descended people in British history. It was originally set up in 1998 to counter a lack of information about Black people in Britain to be found on the Internet. The site has lots of information and articles to get people started in their understanding of the history and culture of Black/African people over the centuries.
People of African and Asian origin have lived in Britain for at least two thousand years. But this aspect of our heritage has been largely forgotten. By presenting a selection of relevant records held by The National Archives and other sources, the Black Presence exhibition aims to reclaim some of this history and make it more widely known.
This site holds the indices to the civil records of births, deaths and marriages for England and Wales from 1837-2005. Full-name searching is possible. NB. This is a charged service.
This web site allows people who are involved in family history to post information which they have gleaned from UK birth, death and marriage records and make it available to others. At the moment it is free to become a member and use. A charge will apply from December 2007 but this will only be £1 per annum.
This web site was established by the Institute of Historical Research and the History of Parliament Trust and is a digital library of British historical sources. It can be searched according to various criteria and provides free access to such things as some volumes from the Victoria County Histories (including Lancashire volumes ) and historical Ordnance Survey maps. Registration provides access to enhanced features such as developing your own "reference shelf" of useful resources. Much of the material on the site could be of great value to local historians
The British Library holds an archive of nearly 50,000 recordings of music, spoken word, and human and natural environments. These can now be accessed online free of charge.
This is an unofficial online database of buildings and structures that are listed as being of special architectural and historic interest. It contains the official listing data for each building, but you can also view the location on maps, add your own comments, information and photos and view comments and photos submitted by other users of the site.
British Origins offers access to English and Welsh genealogy collections online. It features England and Wales Gazetteer maps, Boyd's Marriage Index for England 1538-1840, Boyd's London Burials 1538-1872, other burial records, Marriage Licence Allegations Index 1694-1850, Militia Attestations Index 1886-1910, court depositions, 1841, 1861 and 1871 Censuses, apprenticeship records, and wills. All of these are accessible via a free British and English name search and UK place search. Charged service for full records.
This site describes itself as "The definitive historical guide to the UK titled and landed families". It includes access to a searchable database of the Peerage and Baronetage although full information requires a subscription.
This is an site run by an individual (whose credentials unfortunately aren't apparent on the site). It provides links to websites and sources of information relating to family history in the Caribbean.
Find out more about Black people in history, including the history of the Caribbean islands, people in Black British Life, profile, pictures and useful links from Itzcaribbean, a caribbean community website.
CastleGarden.org offers free access to an extraordinary database of information on 10 million immigrants from 1830 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened.
This is the website of the Catholic Record Society. All the contents of the Record Society volumes are listed. There are also links to other sources of information on Catholic history.
The Clergy of the Church of England Database was created from records held in archives all over England and Wales. It is searchable by name or place to discover details of clerical careers from 1540-1835. To start your search, choose the 'Database' tab. The 'Reference' tab provides alot of background information on church history.
CEMSEARCH-uk is a useful tool for family history and genealogy researchers, for people looking for their ancestors, researching their family tree or trying to find a grave. Includes databases of monumental or headstone inscriptions from cemeteries and graveyards in Lancashire, plus a database of Rossendale WW1 Casualties.
The complete censuses of Ireland for 1901 and 1911 are now available, free to search online, from the National Archives of Ireland.
The Exeter Local Maritime Archives Project (ELMAP) has created a searchable online database of references to records with maritime and naval significance that are held in local record offices and other archives across England and Wales.
The Centre for North-West Regional Studies (CNWRS) was founded in 1973 and is based at Lancaster University. Its web pages include details of publications, archives, courses of study etc.
This independently produced site provides information on and colour illustrations of the coats of arms of local authorities in England and Wales. It covers both current and obsolete authorities.
This website provides various resources connected with the industry including a database of 164,000 deaths in the coal mining industry (which could potentially be useful for family history purposes) and location maps for British mines.
This site contains the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Debt of Honour database giving details of the 1.75 million Commonwealth war casualties and where their graves or memorials are located. This is a free service.
The national directory of community archives in the UK. This website has been set up to show the variety and quantity of community archives in the UK. It's a meeting-place where archives can publicise their work and share their experiences. If you run an archive, please add it to the directory. If you're interested in community archives, please join our e-mail discussion list.
The Conservation Register provides information on the business's of accredited conservator-restorers in the UK and Ireland. You can use this website to find a local conservator-restorer (search by object type, geographical location, surname or business name), for guidance on choosing and working with a conservator, conservation reports, the conservation of churches and their contents, or for tips on Caring for art, antiques and decorative features of buildings.
This site provides a guide for family history researchers whose ancestors may have been transported to Australia and includes Timelines, details of convict ships and history notes.
County Asylums is a site dedicated to revealing the remains of the England and Wales local authority funded mental hospitals. At the moment it consists mainly of recently-taken photographs (including ayslums in the Lancashire Area) although information on the institutions is gradually being added.
Part of Ancestry Library Edition. Crockford’s Clerical Directory was first published in 1858 by John Crockford, the son of a clergyman. The directory contains biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK. It also provides other information such as details about the Anglican churches and benefices in England, Wales, and Ireland. This database contains a selection of Crockford Clerical Directories, dating from 1868 to 1932. Ancestry Library Edition can only be accessed within Lancashire Libraries.
Culture24 is a new publicly sponsored website that brings together information on art, history and science and places to visit from hundreds of UK museums, galleries, archives and libraries, all in one place.
Cyndi's List is a useful starting point for the genealogist. It is basically a listing of links to other genealogy sites (there are currently over 250,000 cited). There are various indexes arranged either alphabetically or by subject.
Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage is the essential reference to the British aristocracy. It contains the genealogical details of every British duke, marquess, viscount, earl, baron and baronet, together with all the living members of their families in the male line. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
The Directory of Irish Genealogy was first published in hardcopy in 1990, and has appeared on the Internet since 1998. The website includes a Beginner's Guide to tracing Irish ancestors and a section on useful websites.
Domesday Book Online provides background information on the history of the Domesday book and its times. The book's content is gradually beind added (note: details records require payment). The area that is now Lancashire (at Domesday, Lancashire did not exist and was mainly part of Yorkshire) is not yet fully transcribed.
This site specialises in Northern Ireland genealogy and our extensive Ulster ancestry database contains birth, marriage, death, and census records for over 1 million Irish Ancestors in Counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. There is a free search facility but access to records is by subscription.
This special section includes many resources including biogrphies, timelines, source documents and multimedia. Access to the full encyclopaedia is available free to library members by clicking HERE
Joseph Wright's definitive six volume work of 1902 on the regional dialects of England has been digitised by the University of Toronto and is now available to view online at the Internet Archive. It can also be downloaded to an eBook reader or as a PDF
It is the responsibility of English Heritage to make sure that the historic environment of England is properly maintained and cared for. Their web site includes information about their work and details of places to visit and events.
Welcome to the Heritage Gateway. Here you can search across national and local records of England's historic sites and buildings. Note: If you are looking for listed buildings information, this requires Advanced Search, which only available after registration (free) or ask a member of library staff to log you in.
EuroDocs links connect to Western European (mainly primary) historical documents that are transcribed, reproduced in facsimile, or translated. The website was established by Richard Hacken of the Brigham Young University in Utah.
A multi-lingual online collection of millions of digitized items from European museums, libraries, archives. An online archive of European culture to which more than 1,000 European national libraries, museums and institutions have contributed content.
Every Generation is an online community resource for the black community to facilitate the personal development and empowerment of young people and to bridge the gap with the older generation through history, family genealogy and heritage. The site is also a resource for schools, statutory services, voluntary sectors, mentoring and youth organisations who are supporting and engaging with black clients.
This website is part of the England's Past For Everyone initiative, a lottery funded project involving the Victoria County History. There are currently ten English Counties involved and the website provides free access to the local history materials produced by academics and volunteers as part of each county project.
This GENUKI site provide information about local societies by linking to their web pages. Otherwise, if the society is a member of the The Federation of Family History Societies, or the Scottish Association of Family History Societies, there is a link to the postal address listings these provide. In addition, Genuki are happy to receive and make available postal address details for other (non-commercial) family history societies, i.e. ones that are registered charities.
Formerly the General Register Office site, this part of the Direct Gov site now offers advice on family history research and links so that you can order birth, marriage, death, civil partnership and adoption certificates online.
This site publishes on-line records compiled by Family History Societies and covers England, Wales and the Isle of Man. It contains over 60 million records including parish registers, monumental inscriptions, censuses, poor law documents and others. A basic search is free but further details from their records would be charged for.
The site includes a searchable database of the indexes to births, marriages and deaths for Cheshire and a link to the listing of wills from 1492 to 1940 held in the Cheshire Record Office.
This site, provided by the FamilyRecords.gov.uk consortium, aims to help you find the government records and other sources you need for your family history research.
Familyrelatives.com offers online access to over 600 million records of which 400 million have been fully transcribed. Records are either fully searchable or browseable in addition and where available they provide the images to the records. Some records are freely available but access to most of the UK records is chargeable. Available records include Birth, Death and Marriage records for England and Wales 1837-2005, Overseas Birth, Death, Marriage Indexes 1761-1994 (Free) and military records including Soldiers Who Died in the Great War. There are also some USA records which are available free.
The main Mormon database for family history. It includes the International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) which has parish records for several countries, including England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Canada and the USA, and the 1881 census for the UK. Also incuded are the 1880 US census and the 1881 Canada census. This is a free service. The Record Office and main libraries also have the IGI database on microfiche and CD, usually for the UK and Ireland only.
This site provides contact details for member societies in the UK and overseas. It also gives useful advice and guidance for those who are embarking on family history research.
Previously called 1837 Online this site provides an entire copy of the indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths (BMD) for England and Wales from 1837 to 2005. There is a charge for retrieving full index information - vouchers may be purchased at some Lancashire Libraries. In addition there are fully searchable datasets of the 1841, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 census. Some military records are included, notably, Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-18, National Roll of the Great War 1914-18, Army Roll of Honour 1939-45, other army lists roll calls 1656-1888, Armed forces births 1761-1994, Armed forces marriages 1818-1994, and Armed forces deaths 1796-1994. The site also includes a wealth of detail on sources available to genealogists and family historians.
Free BMD aims to transcribe the indexes of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales, and to provide free access to them on the Internet; the nineteenth century is well covered to date. It is part of the FreeUKGEN family, which also includes FreeCen (Census data) and FreeReg (Parish Registers).
FreeCEN is part of FreeUKGEN, an initiative aimed at helping make high quality primary (or near-primary) records of relevance to UK genealogy conveniently and freely available online, in a coherent, easy to access and search, information retrieval system. Other projects associated with the FreeUKGEN initiative are FreeBMD and FreeREG. This is a free service but is a work in progress so it's useful to use the "Information about Coverage" link before you use it.
The FreeREG Project's objective is to provide free Internet searches of baptism, marriage, and burial records, which have been transcribed from parish and non-conformist church registers in the UK. It is a companion project to Free BMD. Note that FreeREG is a work in progress. There are currently over 2 million records available.
Find information on Civic Trust Heritage Open Days around the UK.
This site provides census indexes and transcripts from 1841 to 1901; births, marriages and deaths 1837-2005; directories 1852-1905; parish records 1538-1837. It is a charged service.
The web site of the General Register Office for the Irish Republic. Use the "Apply for a Cert" link to obtain a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate.
The website of the General Register Office for Northern Ireland. Use the "certificates" link to order copies of birth, death and marriage certificates.
This is the website for the General Register Office for Scotland. It provides background information and acts as a gateway to other sites with records online. Use the "Family Records" link to order copies of certificates.
Genes Reunited is one of the most popular family history site. Registration is free and the site contains lots of useful information and resources. However, you will need to pay to view the historical records available through this site (The same records are available for free in any Lancashire Library via Ancestry Library Edition).
This website from the London Metropolitan University includes a database with descriptions of women's history collections from museums, libraries and archives in the United Kingdom and a Guide to sources that provides access to a wide range of international web resources on women's history.
The aim of GENUKI is to serve as a virtual reference library of genealogical information that is of particular relevance to the UK and Ireland. It provides links to all kinds of sources of family history information arranged by subject and geographical location. This includes libraries, record offices, local societies etc. Gives contact details for register offices in England and Wales .
A good site that has links to genealogical research information about Lancashire.
This site lists of the George Cross and provides links to other George Cross and Victoria Cross web sites.
www.gitrace.org is a website that has been set up to help people trace their American GI fathers/families. It includes details of local groups and advice about where to search.
This is the website of the gravestone photographic resource project which was set up in 1999 by Charles Sale to photographically record grave monuments and make the information they contain publically available. It is resticted to photographs of those monuments that contain details of people who were born before 1901. The coverage is limited at the moment but the project is ongoing.
Great War Archive contains items contributed by the general public during 2008 (Contributions were made via a website and also through open days at libraries and museums). Every item originates from, or relates to, someone's experience of the First World War, either abroad or at home. It also hosts a WW1 digital poetry archive.
The Guild is an association of genealogists specializing in research on a particular surname. It is possible to do a free search for a surname on their website, or see individual pages for each surname studied in the 'Reg.Names' section. Note that the individual specialist researchers may charge for their services.
The Heritage Trust for the North West is a charitable trust (Reg. No 508300) whose mission is to preserve and restore buildings of historical interest so that they can be enjoyed today and by future generations. The website provides details of visitor centres, projects, contact details etc.
The Society is a charity which exists for educational purposes to promote the study of any aspect of the history of the Palatine counties of Lancashire and Cheshire and successor local authorities. The aims of the Society are achieved principally through public lectures and the publication of an annual volume of Transactions. The Transactions are indexed and may be searched by name, volume or full index.
The Association has 50 local branches around the country and aims to promote life long learning and the enjoyment of history. Their web site provides details of events, local associations and information on Local History.
Historical Directories, a lottery funded project from the University of Leicester, is a digital library of local and trade directories for England and Wales, from 1750 to 1919. You can search the directories by location, year or keyword. Only a limited selection of directories have thus far been digitised. Most are still only available through Community History Libraries and the Record Office.
Historypin is the place where people come together to share their historical pictures and stories. Together we want to collect old photos to build up a igital history. Explore Google Maps through an extra dimension, time. Historypin is a like a digital time machine that allows people to view and share their personal history in a totally new way.
Historyworld’s aim is to make world history more easily accessible through interactive narratives and timelines. The site is searchable by themes and historical periods. The Ocean Index available from this site provides links to about 35,000 sites whose links and contents are regularly checked.
History.uk.com is an online directory of people, places and organisations involved or connected to history in the United Kingdom. There are over 28,000 listings available on the site, covering history from a basic level right through to academic research
Histpop (The Online Historical Population Reports Project) contains all published census reports for England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, for the period 1801-1937 and all the published registration reports for England, Wales and Scotland, without exception for the period 1837-1920. Please note that the information is statistical - the site only contains a very small number of reproductions of original census enumerators' books for illustrative purposes.
The Holocaust Educational Trust was established in 1988 with the aim to educate young people from every background about the Holocaust and the important lessons to be learned for today. The Trust works in schools, universities and in the community to raise awareness and understanding of the Holocaust, and has links to extensive resource material.
The website of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust was established in 2005 to help ensure that the Holocaust and subsequent genocides are known and that victims are commemorated and lessons learnt are translated into contemporary action in the UK. The HDMT is responsible for the annual, national commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day and produce free advice and resouces for the hundreds of event organisers in the UK who hold events on or around 27 January each year.
An interactive site from Channel 4 for students, aged 11-16, of History.
This database provides information on the existence and location of the records of UK hospitals. There are currently over 2,800 entries, which have been compiled by the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine. These can be found by searching the database.
"If the past is a foreign country, this is your passport". Restronaut is a critically acclaimed site which enables you to browse or search and explore history through stunning photography.
This site charts the contributions made to the history of the United Kingdom and Ireland from humanist and secularist perspectives, including famous people and places of interest.
Select a Lancashire church to search christenings or marriages via Family Search.
Interactive site covering all aspects of the Roman world. Includes sections on religion, society, the army and extensive illustrations of costume. There is also a separate children's section.
The Images of England project is managed by the National Monuments Record (NMR), the public archive of English Heritage. Images of England is a ‘point in time’ photographic library of England’s listed buildings, recorded at the turn of the 21st century with over 300,000 images of England’s built heritage from lamp posts to lavatories, phone boxes to toll booths, mile stones to gravestones, as well as thousands of bridges, historic houses and churches. It is free to use the site but to gain full access (including the advanced search feature) registration is required (free) or ask a member of library staff to log you in.
The Imperial War Museum London archives provide a range of materials for the family history researcher. The links from this page advise the researcher how to use the available archives.
This British Library site holds 300,000 births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials from the India Office Records,covering mainly British and European people in India c.1600-1949, but also includes people in other countries connected with the history of the British in India and biographical notes from a variety of sources.
The web site of The Institute of Historical Research which is part of the University of London's School of Advanced Study. Their online research tools can enable you to find primary and secondary sources, and extensive bibliographic information
The ILEJ was a project which has digitized and made available on the internet 20 year runs of 18th and 19th Century periodicals including Notes and Queries, The Builder and Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine .
This is U.S. based association whose website contains some searchable indexes and databases. Some copy records may be purchased (in $ US)
This site is part of the Irish Genealogical Online Record Search System (ORS), an all Ireland initiative organised by the Irish Family History Foundation. The Irish Family History Foundation is the co-ordinating body for a network of government approved genealogical research centres in the Republic of Ireland (Eire) and in Northern Ireland which have computerised almost 40 million Irish Ancestral records, primarily Church births (baptisms), marriages and deaths. Basic information is freely available but there are charges for more detailed records. Registration is required to use this service.
Links for news, memberships, reviews and publications are available on this site.
A site containing research aids, forums and over 70 database going back to the 1600s. Free membership offers access to research aids and to a page where you can post the details of your own research.Standard and Premium paid-for subscription offeraccess to many quite rare records.
The Society was established in 1936 and publishes the Irish Genealogist journal.Details of their library holdings, journal contents and membership are available at this site.
The Central Signposting index (C.S.I) contains over 3 million genealogical records which may help you trace you Irish ancestor. The C.S.I. will point you to the local county based genealogy centre that may hold the records you seek.
Irish Origins includes Griffith's Primary Valuation of Ireland records and maps, Irish Wills Index (1484-1858), the 1851 Dublin City Census, Irish Royal Garrison Artillery Records, and the Irish Origins Library, all accessible via a free Irish name search. A basic search can be done free of charge but viewing documents requires payment.
The website of the National Archives for Ireland. The genealogy link gives details of useful sources (censuses, parish records, wills etc) and how you can get access to them.
The website of the General Registry of the Isle of Man which has separate sections for Deeds and Probate, the Land Registry and the Civil Registry.
This site connects researchers of Jewish genealogy worldwide. Some of its components are the JewishGen Family Finder (a database of over 400,000 surnames and towns), All Country Databases and the Family Tree of the Jewish People, containing data on more than three million people. JewishGen also serves as host to independent organizations such as JewiTsh Records Indexing - Poland.
Register Offices in the county of Lancashire, hold records of local births, marriages and deaths back to the start of civil registration in 1837. The county's Family History Societies are collaborating with the local Registration Services to make the indexes to these records freely searchable via the Internet on this web site. Although the indexes are not yet complete for all years and districts, the database will eventually cover Lancashire births, marriages and deaths for the years 1837 to the present day.
The web site of the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society. It contains details of the Society, including the local branches; a brief history of Lancashire; details of the Society's publications etc.
This site aims to extract and preserve the records from the various parishes and to provide online access to that data, FREE of charge, along with other data of value to family and local historians conducting research in the County of Lancashire. Check the What's New section for newly added databases. There are other Online Parish Clerk Projects in the UK which can be accessed through "Links".
Land of Lost Content is the national museum of popular culture based at Craven Arms, Shropshire. The site also hosts a design and education suite.
This is an archved site from a Leicester University MA course site which provide a lot of useful links for anyone interested in the study and history of the landscape.
This page from GENUKI lists Latin translations of baptismal, marriage and burial entries and numbers and dates.
Try these pages from the FreeReg organisation for a list of names in Latin that may be found on Parish Register entries.
Learn Peace is an educational site produced by the Peace Pledge Union to enable pupils, teachers and parents to explore the history of and issues surrounding human conflict. It has resources relating to the world wars, remembrance day, pacifism and genocide. The education process and its content are not value free and neither is the material available here. The value that underpins this site is the belief that nonviolence is better than violence; that building a culture of peace should be a priority and a part of this process is both to question and to challenge our easy acquiescence in a culture of violence.
Part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community's History website, this section presents the lives of gay black people, provides links to gay black organisations and has resources for schools and events.
The website of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transexual History Month which takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.
The web site of the Liverpool and SW Lancs Family History Society. It contains details of the society, including the local branches and details of the society's publications etc.
This page is located at the genealogy site published by GENUKI. It gives contact details for register offices in England and Wales, with links to any available online indexes. Birth, Death and Marriage certificates can be obtained from registration offices/districts.
Crime, Poverty and Social Policy in the Metropolis. A fully searchable archive of 240,000 manuscripts giving access to 3.35 million names. Access is free, but registration is required.
A site produced independenty by Chris Barker (a member of the University of Birmingham Centre for First World War Studies). The aim of the site is to present a factual account of the British Army during WWI. It site also contains information to help in family history research relating to the War and Armed Forces.
Lost Cousins is a family history research and social networking site rolled into one. As you search for ancestors from the site, it will alerts you to "cousins" carrying out similar research and provides an oppurtunity to contact them. Lost Cousins also contains a wealth of advice, news and links for genealogy. Basic membership is free, but some features require you to pay a subscription.
This page, set up by two scholars affiliated to Cambridge University, lists nearly 300 museums and museum-ships in Britain and Ireland, in alphabetical order of their usual names. Website links and e mail contacts are also given
How much was a pound worth in...? This site enables you to calculate relative values and purchasing powers of the pound sterling (and other currencies) across the centuries.
The website contains 250,000 records of soldiers who fought in the Hundred Years War between 1369 and 1453, and includes the names of archers who served with Henry V at Agincourt. The Medieval Soldier Database contains full profiles of individual soldiers, with muster roll evidence allowing researchers to piece together details of soldiers' lives.
Moving Here provides free online access to resources which record and illustrate the migration of the Caribbean, Irish, Jewish and South Asian Communities to England over the past two centuries.
Under the heading ‘Multi-cultural Manchester’, this web site provides an overview of some of the sources of information on migrations to the city held by Manchester Archives and Local Studies. It covers sources for several cultural groups including Afro-Caribbean, Armenian, Chinese, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Jewish and Polish.
The Myerscough Database is the result of 20 years of research undertaken by Agnes Myerscough. It contains details of over 3000 Myerscoughs and over 3000 associated descendant surnames
The National archives now produce a wide range of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds and Podcasts. The feeds provide up to the minute news on document releases and downloads and the entertaining podcasts include clips and commentaries on many historical subjects and useful 'how to' guides for family history research.
The National Archives holds material relating to England, Wales and the United Kingdom and also many other countries. It was formed in April 2003 by bringing together the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission. The site includes access to the catalogue, guides for researchers, details of opening times etc.
The National Heritage List for England is an online database which brings together information on all nationally designated heritage assets in one place for the first time. You can search for: listed buildings, scheduled monuments, protected wreck sites, registered parks and gardens and registered battlefields.
the NRA contains information on the nature and location of manuscripts and historical records that relate to British history. Search the register by corporate names, personal names or place.
The Trust's web site includes a searchable database of National Trust properties listing opening times, facilities etc.
The Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (ncse) is a free, online edition of six nineteenth-century periodicals and newspapers - Monthly Repository (1806-1837) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833); Northern Star (1838-1852); Leader (1850-1860); English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864); Tomahawk (1867-1870); Publishers’ Circular (1880-1890) It is a collaboration between Birkbeck College, King’s College London (Centre for Computing in the Humanities and the Department of English), the British Library, and Olive Software. It was funded from January 2005 to December 2007 by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
North West Film Archive at the Manchester Metropolitan University holds over 32,000 reels of film and videotape from early animated pictures to contemporary productions. You can search their catalogue online.
A non-profit making concern established in 1980 to provide education services for the furtherance of research into genealogy and family history and to support the work of the region's societies, libraries and record offices.
The web site of the North West Regional Archive Council. It provides links to the web sites of the archives services in the region, information on A2A (Access to Archives), organisational details etc
A listing of historical medical terms that may be found on old death certificates and patient records.
Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 1674-1913, a free fully searchable edition of the largest body of texts detailing the lives of non-elite people ever published, containing 197,745 criminal trials held at London's central criminal court.
This site from the BBC displays news items for given dates dating back to 1950.
This site provides access to definitive databases of genealogical data for researching your family history online. The emphasis is on England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. It includes some census records, Boyd's Marriage Index and some local probate records and indexes to wills. This is a subscription service.
Pastscape is a database created by English Heritage from the National Monument Register and provides a number of user friendly ways to search for information and images on archaeological, architectural and maritime sites.
The complete run of the Penny Illustrated Paper: news of everyday life between 1861 and 1913 set against the panorama of historical events in Britain and across the Empire. This is a free service from the British Library.
Eilert Ekwall's classic 1922 book on the etymology of Lancashire place-names has been digitised by the University of Toronto and is now available to view online at the Internet Archive. It can also be downloaded to an eBook reader or as a PDF.
An introduction to British Life and Culture - part of Woodlands Junior School's British Life and Culture website. The website contains fascinating facts and information about England, Scotland and Wales (Britain), in a way that is easy to read and to understand for people of all ages and cultures.
The Archive gives access to the original documents which drove and reflected change on the railway, making some available for the first time. The documents include; acts of parliament, accident reports and publicity material, from the first Act of Parliament to regulate railways, right up to the Railways Act 2005. It is of use to anyone researching UK railway history and requiring access to primary source material.
Part of the GenDocs site this is a list of occupations and trades found in censuses and other genealogical documents.
A web site from published building historian Jean Manco. If offers guides on research, information on building types (banks, churches, market halls etc) and a guide to architectural styles
A freely accesible e-journal from the Institute of Historical Research which publishes reviews and reappraisals of significant works in all fields of historical interest.
This site, created by enthusiasts, seeks to record all the UK war memorials by county and includes details of the servicemen listed upon them.
Learn all about the Roman Baths in Bath. The site includes pictures and a children's area with quizzes.
The primary purpose and function of RootsWeb.com is "to connect people so that they can help each other and share genealogical research. Most resources on RootsWeb.com are designed to facilitate such connections." There is also a link to the charged service Ancestry.com
This is an independent site produced by Andrew Field, a history teacher from Cambridgeshire. It provides free access to a range of history resources which link in with the academic years and key stages.
Scotlands People is the official online source of parish register, civil registration and census records for Scotland. It includes births, marriages and deaths, 1855 - ; parish registers, 1553-1854, censuses 1841-1901, wills and testaments 1513-1901. Most of the information on this site is charged for.
This site features a Free IGI search, access to Origins Experts, research of authentic Scottish records from 1700 to 1990, a Free Scottish Place search, and expert articles and discussion on Scottish history. Some services are free, some charged.
to Local and Family History. This fully revised and updated edition contains over 2,000 entries from adoption to World War records. There are recommended web links for many entries. This edition advises how to research your family tree using the internet and details the full range of online resources available. New articles for this edition are 'A Guide for Beginners', 'Links between British and American Families', 'Black and Asian Family History', and an extended feature on 'Names'. Access is free from any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
Searchlight brings together items from the Imperial War Museum Collections to create an online archive of modern conflict, including images, sound and film clips.
Slave Registers of former British Colonial Dependencies are one of the many historical records available from ancestry Library Edition and can be used as part of family history research for black british people tracing their roots. Ancestry Library Edition is available free on any Library PC.
The web site of The Society of Genealogists which offers research material, guidance and support for those interested in family history and the lives of earlier generations.
The first part of this page describes sources available at Guildhall Library. The second part provides guidance for those tracing an individual who is known to have belonged to a particular branch of the medical profession, and suggests some potential sources held outside the Library. Sources at the Library are freely available for the public to consult but the staff cannot undertake extensive research.
The Stately Homes Guide provides information to help you plan your visit to or event at one of Britain's stately homes, gardens, castles and other historic properties and houses.
StoryVault brings oral history and traditional story telling into the digital age. Record and Share your memories and those of your friends and family, whether they are personal and communal or concern events of historical significance. You can view videos of the survivors of many events (World War veterans or Titanic survivors) or upload your own.
A site dedicated to the workhouse — its buildings, inmates, staff and administrators, even its poets. It also covers aspects of associated social history, politics, economics and architecture.
This interactive timeline will allow you to explore British Library collection items chronologically, from medieval times to the present day. It includes a diverse combination of texts: those that allow glimpses of everyday life (handbills, posters, letters, diaries), remnants of political events (charters, speeches, campaign leaflets), and the writings of some of our best known historical and literary figures.
An independently produced website (Mark Crail)which aims to help family historians to identify the correct union, to discover the role their ancestor played in it, and to find out more about trade union history. There is also a link from the site a Chartist Ancestors which is also produced by Mark Crail.
A list of occupations and trades found in censuses and other genealogical documents. It is part of the independently produced Genproxy site which also provides information for genealogists on latin terms, medical terms etc.
This site provides links to websites that offer online transcriptions of UK and Ireland Birth, Marriage and Death records and census records. The information is taken from various sources including the GRO, local registrars' records and parish registers. It is searchable by County (including the counties of Eire). Some of the services linked to will be free others are charged for.
Search the records of war memorials commemorating all wars located throughout the United Kingdom. They range from familiar community crosses and statues to less common memorials like bus shelters, sundials, park benches and even an island. Note that this is an ongoing project and not yet complete.
This Victoria County History site provides free access to reliable local history materials, produced by academics and volunteers. Photographs, paintings, drawings, maps, text, transcribed documents and audio files are organised thematically.
The web site of the Victoria History of the Counties of England gives details of all volumes published to date, and of volumes in preparation. Increasingly some of the volumes are available to view online - this includes some Lancashire volumes. Founded in 1899 and originally dedicated to Queen Victoria, the VCH is an encyclopaedic record of England's places and people from earliest times to the present day.
An indpendently produced site which gives deatils of Victoria Cross holders including burial locations and, in many cases, photographs of headstones.
This website, produced by the East of England Learning grid, is an educational site all about Crime and Punishment in the UK in the 19th Century. It includes a prisoner database with actual prisoner records and case studies for a more in-depth view of the crimes and trials of some of the inmates. There is a teachers area containing resources for Key Stage 2 - 4.
Victorian Times is a NOF Funded Digitisation project examining social, political and economic developments in Victorian Britain (1837-1901). Their website covers a range of subjects such as Health, Tansport etc and provides information and digitised copies of original documents for pupils and students at different stages in the education system. All the resources are available without charge.
Site of a local amateur photographer specialising in urban photography in the North of England. Sites featured include Accrington Conservative Club, Royal Ordnance at Chorley, Burnley Weavers Triangle and Roach Bridge Paper Mill.
This 'Maps of War' has a library of animated maps from a variety of sources (including the BBC) featuring the history of war, politics and religion from prehistory to the present day.
As well as providing infromation on the association, this site also contains articles, maps, photographs and a time line of the Great War on the Western Front.
The website of the magazine which accompanies the popular BBC series, which helpful articles and background information.
WikiTree is a free and easy way for families to privately share information and organize their facts, memories, and photos and create family trees. Yopu control your level of privacy and how much information is publicly available to help others.
This site gives comprehensive coverage on the history of the workhouse. It includes maps and photographs as well as memories from former residents.
The World Digital Library (WDL) makes available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials (books, journals, manuscripts, maps, images, sound and video recordings) from countries and cultures all over the world.
Part of the Woodlands Junior School website these pages have links to life in the war, the role of women, the blackout, the blitz, timelines and loads more.
The WorldGenWeb Project is a non-profit, volunteer based organization dedicated to providing genealogical and historical records and resources for world-wide access. Their website provides some free research guidance.
Your Archives, part of The National Archives' online services, is a wiki, built using the same technology as Wikipedia. It is a community of record users where people can share their knowledge of British history and archival sources held by The National Archives, and by other archives throughout the UK. Your Archives is clearly distinct from The National Archives' main website, because it is designed for you to develop and use as you undertake your research into national, community and family history and archives.
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