RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: stevenson on Wednesday 09 March 11 19:58 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone tell me what the parking facilities will be like at the new PRONI site please.
I have rang them all week and nobody seems to know for sure.
Is it better or worse than the last site
If limited parking on site what would be the nearest bus stop.
Thank you
Steve
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I suspect you'll have to park at the Odyssey and walk. The bus route would probably be the 26, getting off near the Odyssey, or on the train - Bridge End train station.
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Thank you ES
Odyssey..is that where the cinema is and can you park there if you are not using the facilities there.
Regards
Lazy Steve who would have dearly loved to have been able to drive up to PRONI ...park ......search all day......leave...with paper work.... tired ....but happy...and just drive off ;D
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Yes the Odyssey complex is where the cinema is. Anyone can use the Odyssey car park (for a fee of course).
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Hi
Its a pitty PRONI could not give us these details now so we can start to plan. I would love to see some pictures of what it looks like in side and the layout of the building.
Surpose I will have to wait until the end of the month and be ready for the scrum, as i am sure it will be like the last few weeks before they closed at Balmoral.
John
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The nearest car park might be that in the Highpark Centre, High Street. There are also some park and ride car parks which could be cheaper if you were planning on a lengthy visit to PRONI.
Check out www.belfastcity.gov.uk/stgeorgesmarket/docs/BelfastCarParks.pdf
and www.ncp.co.uk/car-park.html?cpid=700133&name=Montgomery Street
Leslie
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Hi
The nearest carpark so far is at the Odyssey.
See the below link for Prices. It looks like a prepay ticket for 6 hours at £3.20 is the best offer.
http://www.odysseyarena.com/car-parks.html
John
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Is it just me? I am very certain any parking will come with a heafty fee - no off street parking like Balmoral that's for sure :-[
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HI
I never gave parking a thought I just assumed it would all be sorted and parking would have been included in the new place, certainly will make a difference. There is always a price to pay.
J
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Thank you all for the help
If anyone gets any futher information can you keep us informed.
Steve
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Capt Steve,
Suggest parking well off-site, and treating yourself to a return-taxi back to a good pub (car park).
No need to be reticently Welch. Beat the "Irish" at the game, once again!
Capt. Jock ;) [We was robbed by rule 16 ... er, rule 19 ... er, serendipity!]
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Capt J
What a good idea
Yes we were robbed....as I stood up looking down.....straining to see....waving me scarf....
I couldn't work out why the wee man in red had the ball...alas all was lost.
Capt S (could also fit in a good Ulster fry at the pub then)
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There is a bus stop right outside the PRONI TQ office:
http://www.translink.co.uk/Timetables/Metro-Timetables/All-Other-Metro-Timetables/Metro-Service-26-Outbound/
or
http://www.translink.co.uk/Timetables/Metro-Timetables/All-Other-Metro-Timetables/Metro-Service-26A-Outbound/
Also a number of buses stop outside the Albert Clock which is about ten minutes away from Odyssey.
If you want to go by train, then Bridge End is ten minutes from the Odyssey or 20 minutes from Central.
The nearest car park is the Odyssey though there is also parking opposite the Drawing Rooms.
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Capt Steve,
Sadly GAULT's shebeen in Kingsmoss is (apparently?) no more ....
Luckily a warm welcome in a unique lasting-to-the-present-day near-bus-stop alternative is conveniently to hand,
Good to see your lights shining once more.
Thought we'd lost you overboard!
Capt Jock
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Thank you Banshee ;D
Capt....overboard..na...went for a swim..back now 8)
Steve
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Hi
This page has been up dated with new information about parking.
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/visiting_proni/getting_here.htm
There seems to be a FREE carpark about 5 minutes walk from PRONI opposite the Harland & Wolff drawing offices. see map in the link below.
http://www.proni.gov.uk/proni_map.pdf
Otherwise its paying at the Odyssey at the cheapest £3 per day.
John
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Well, at least that's good news. Now, would be interested to know what the cafe is like (at least I hope there's somewhere to get a bite to eat, cup of tea, etc.- and hopefully much, much better than the last meal I had at the old site)...
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Hi all,
I was at PRONI on Tuesday, the day before it reopened to the public, and managed to take many photos as well as a short video on the new premises, which are truly stunning.
My blog post at http://scottishancestry.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcome-to-21st-century-proni.html contains about 15 images and a run down, whilst another post at http://scottishancestry.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-proni-search-room-in-belfast.html contains a video in the new search room, with PRONI's Stephen Scarth giving me a description of what's on offer.
Hope it might be of interest! :)
Chris
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Hi
Thank you very much for info on parking and video links. Chris your interview with Stephen Scarth showing you all the new facilites at PRONI and how to use them was good to watch especially the moving desks it now looks so bright and welcoming cant wait to visit,your blog also made very interesting reading.Nice to know you went to visit the grave of George Best.
regards
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What a great blog! Thanks Chris! I have to say the new place looks very inviting! I thought I saw a photo of a new microfiche machine?? Can it be true? Have they really replaced those awful dinosaurs i often wrestled with in the past?? ;)
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Oh they are all new...! :)
Chris
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Hi
Yes all new Microfilm readers and two new printers as well. I must say that it is a really nice room with light coming in from large windows. Far better that the dark microfilm room at Balmoral Avenue.
I can recommend the cafe on the ground floor which is great. They also seem to have relaxed a few security measures as well. After you get your new ID card you don't have to sign in and out anymore. You leave your coats and bags in the Lockers just as before, make sure you have £1 for the lockers, (you get it back when you finish) you then make your way upstairs (stairs or the lift) to the search room. You use your ID card to get access to the Search and Reading rooms.
There also seem to be some new staff who are very helpful. Good to see some of the old unfriendly unhelpful staff and security banished to the back rooms.
The only down side I can see is that there could be more room at the Microfilm readers. They are a bit close to each other and not much space if you want the spread out your documents.
John
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Hi,
I have been surprised at the comments mentioning unfriendly staff at the old PRONI. I have been going there for three years and have always found the staff helpful and friendly. They have shown me how to use the computer systen to find documents and one even took time to explain the reason for the time it was going to take to move to the new building. I hope most of them are still there.
Regards
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I never found the staff unfriendly as such, just the security! I nearly got thrown out once for hanging a cardigan over the back of a chair, I had no idea it wasnt allowed and the room was so hot and stuffy. I was very embarrassed when the security guard came over to me. :-[
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Kingskerswell i did not want to say where the staff operated but I did find a few who were very unhelpful at times. I did see one of them today but not working in the public areas. The staff in the Search room are very helpful and have been able to help me with my research. (Opps you might have now guested where the other staff operated, oh well)
Liscoole you still can't hang your cardigan on the back of the chair in the reading room but you could be ok in the Search and Microfilm area as security don't patrol this area (well not when i have been there).
In the search room there are about 10 to 15 computers for internet access and then about 20 on the other side of the room for you to order your records and wills. Also desks for you to use your own laptop on the free wireless system throughout the building.(not tried that yet)
No more paper documents to fill in and get stamped either in the Microfilm area. Its help yourself as long as you put a red microfilm case in to replace the one your are taking out.
John
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Wonder if that was the same one who scolded me when I took off my cardigan on a very, very warm day :-\
On the whole I've always found the staff very helpful except the last time I went to Balmoral Avenue we had nothing but problems- documents left at the wrong table (oh, I put it there 30 minutes ago for you, sorry, wrong table), wrong documents appeared (oh, I see the number now), documents couldn't be located (it'll probably turn up after we move- try then), etc.
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I visited yesterday and found the staff all very helpful. Some were clearly new and not 100% familiar with the system but all went out of their way to tell me what they were doing to find the information I needed. I couldn’t fault them at all. There were numerous new visitors from GB, the US etc and the staff were excellent in helping them with their first enquiry, so that they could then carry on without assistance. I was impressed with that.
There were a couple of times when, briefly, all the microfilm readers were occupied but generally there were always a few to spare. There were always plenty of internet and general search computers spare.
Not sure about the café. It is pleasant and airy, and a nice place to eat but some of the hot food looked a bit tired. I had a pie with overcooked potatoes and very tired broccoli. Many people had their own sandwiches. That, combined with a coffee from the café, might be a wiser option unless the hot food improves.
I overheard a few conversations about where to park. Several people had found free parking nearby but there was speculation that it wouldn’t be free for too long. Hard to say. I went by train to Bridge End and felt that the signage from there could be better. Someone unfamiliar with the area might be confused as to where to go. It took me 9 minutes to walk from Bridge End to PRONI.
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Sorry Elwyn if I was hogging a Microfilm reader yesterday on you. Yes at one stage yesterday morning it was full but looked quiet in the afternoon.
I had Chicken Pie and potatoes for lunch and it was better than the cooking I get at home so I was happy.
Not sure about the carparking. Its free at the moment but not sure who owns it. It seames to be a public car park and not just for PRONI visitors.
For Disabled visitors there are two car parking spaces just beside the front door.
Yes signs would be helpful all around the whole area.
John
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I visited yesterday and found the staff all very helpful. Some were clearly new and not 100% familiar with the system but all went out of their way to tell me what they were doing to find the information I needed. I couldn’t fault them at all. There were numerous new visitors from GB, the US etc and the staff were excellent in helping them with their first enquiry, so that they could then carry on without assistance. I was impressed with that.
There were a couple of times when, briefly, all the microfilm readers were occupied but generally there were always a few to spare. There were always plenty of internet and general search computers spare.
Not sure about the café. It is pleasant and airy, and a nice place to eat but some of the hot food looked a bit tired. I had a pie with overcooked potatoes and very tired broccoli. Many people had their own sandwiches. That, combined with a coffee from the café, might be a wiser option unless the hot food improves.
I overheard a few conversations about where to park. Several people had found free parking nearby but there was speculation that it wouldn’t be free for too long. Hard to say. I went by train to Bridge End and felt that the signage from there could be better. Someone unfamiliar with the area might be confused as to where to go. It took me 9 minutes to walk from Bridge End to PRONI.
Quickest route from Bridge End is to walk to the end of the platform towards Belfast (do this on the platform that faces the Bangor road), and continue to follow the lane which brings you on to the main road. After which, go under the flyover and head towards Odyssey. That route takes about ten minutes which I'm guessing is the route you used.
The NIR signage is very poor, I wouldn't expect signs yet for PRONI but Odyssey has been there about a decade and still isn't properly signposted.
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I would like to thank all the staff for making my trip to PRONI such a pleasure for me.
I followed all your ideas on getting there and did different things each day.
With a hotel opposite I might stay there next time to save traveling across the City( and because I am so lazy would just need to cross the road).
Just one criticism, and its not really a criticism, document arrive so quickly now that by Thursday afternoon I had run out of things I needed to find......... :o so I just spent Friday looking for more documents.......hee hee ...... I had a fantastic time.
Happy Steve ;D
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I take it I can just turn up and don't have to book in advance?
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Hi Speedwobble
Yes you can just turn up there is no need to book at PRONI. If its you first time make sure you bring some Photo ID ie Passport or Driving licence. Check their website www.proni.gov.uk for more details.
They Open at 9.00am and close at 4.45pm except Thursday when they close at 8.45pm.
If you wish to go to the General Registry Office in Belfast to search for Civil Births, Marriages and Deaths you need to book about 6 week in advance. www.groni.gov.uk
John
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I started looking onto the family tree at the time that the old premises were closed and before the new one opened. I ended up going to the temporary reading room at a local library and the staff member mentioned that there had been index cards and that they thought these might not be available in the new premises.
Can you advise if there are any index cards available either physically or online?
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Hi,
The Index Cards do not seem to be available but you can search on the e-catalogue. See http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/ecatalogue.htm
You can search at home or at PRONI where the staff are very helpful.
Regards
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Thanks kingskerswell. :)
I think I'll try for a selection of records and take a scoot up to check the new buildings out too.
Maybe once I've looked through a few possibles, I might be able to get somewhere. At the moment it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. :-\
I'm trying to find birth records but don't know if these wold even be in proni. Might have to prebook a trip to groni. It's a complicated business. Especially to us newbies :)
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Can I ask a daft question? Do you know if I search for a name, does it search the data in the records or just the subject titles (ir you will) of the documents held?
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Hi,
I have found the catalogue difficult to search. Generally the more information you put in your question the more, often irrevelant, results you get. If you are looking for a birth then you are probably better searching for the records (on microfilm) where the child may have been baptised.
Regards
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Thanks for the heads up. I think I'll search through the church records first. If I remember rightly I think they are pretty much a scribbly list, so a good strong coffee beforehand will hopefully help. cheers, Jo.