Record Office / "The Story" re-opening

[JenB]

The opening is now forecast to take place in early summer this year
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24053377.story---durhams-new-archives-museum---delayed/

[jon541]

Thanks for that Jen - looks like we can start to dream of accessing the records again.

Molly - I take your point that some archives show distressing signs of "broken Britain" and budgetary cuts.  I'm hoping that The Story will be like Northumberland Records Office by which I mean that it will provide a good environment for research (whether or not shared with other council services) and some innovation in the provision of records previously only available on microfilm, i.e. that they'e started down the digitisation track.  I feel sorry for the staff at Tyne and Wear, clearly underfunded, understaffed and coping with a dwindling number of knackered old microfilm readers.

I'm optimistic about "The Story".  Don't start me on the daft name though - I already have to remember that "The Word" is actually South Shields Library, "The Hive" is Worcester Records Office and Library (near where I live currently), "The Great North Museum" is the Hancock and now "The Story"... sheesh.  Life was so much easier with plain old {insert county here} Records Office.  The marketing wonks have taken over!

[JayG]

Just seen a DCC post on Facebook that they are opening 14/06/2024.

Jay

[Tickettyboo]

 Good news :-) thanks JayG!
Boo

[AllanUK]

Just seen a DCC post on Facebook that they are opening 14/06/2024.

Jay

Hooray -- Looks like I'll have to pre-book a seat to beat the rush

[JayG]

The Story fully opens on Monday. Friday and this weekend are open days.

I popped in yesterday.

The 'collections room' is open Monday to Friday 10 - 4. Previously Wednesday was their late opening, this is now Thursday but only until 7pm.   It isn't clear on the website that they actually have a late opening.

The 'search and discover' space is open Monday - Friday 9 - 5 (7pm on Thursday's), Saturday and Sunday 10 - 5.

They aren't bring any mircofilms from County Hall.  They will be available digitally on computers in the 'search and discover' space.

 Yesterday the only things that had been uploaded were 3 different parishes so there's a long way to go yet! A member of staff I was speaking to said more was being uploaded over the weekend but I'm not sure if that means all the previously microfilmed records would be available by Monday or if they are doing it in tranches.

It don't sound like they were bringing any of various indexes either as these are going to be available to search on the computers too, in a separate database from the previously microfilmed records.

The new website is still a work in progress. Once all the content is uploaded at some point the old website will be retired.

They had a few differently themed displays on (presumably they'll still be on today and tomorrow). One of them was about the 1909 West Stanley pit disaster, which included not only the actual burial registers of St Andrew's CoE Church and St Joseph's RC Church showing the burials of some of the miners but an actual death register showing some of their death registrations.  This I was very surprised to see! The Story now houses all the historical BMD registers previously held at Bishop Auckland Register Office, access hasn't changed though you still need to apply and pay for a certificate.

I was going to book in next week to go and do some research but I think I'll leave it a few weeks until they've got all the content sorted and things ironed out.  Plus I need to sort out my various scraps of paper with things I've been wanted to check/look up since they been closed and from about three years prior to that!

Jay

[AllanUK]

Many thanks for the update. Like you, I was eager to 'book in' but I think that I will leave it for a few weeks as well.

[jon541]

Likewise, many thanks for posting such an informative update JayG.  And, like Allan I'm pleased now that I managed to resist the temptation to be there at the start if not everything that was at the old County Hall is going to be available immediately.

I've been wondering if the new records office would make the leap into the 21stC by dumping the old MFs so thanks for answering that question too!  I suspect that they will indeed be making the digital images available in tranches as you suggest so anyone planning to research in the coming weeks might be well advised to check in advance whether their key parishes are available if travelling from a distance (like myself).

[Tickettyboo]

They aren't bring any mircofilms from County Hall.  They will be available digitally on computers in the 'search and discover' space.

JayG do you know if these digital images were taken from the microfilms or from the original registers?

Yesterday the only things that had been uploaded were 3 different parishes so there's a long way to go yet! A member of staff I was speaking to said more was being uploaded over the weekend but I'm not sure if that means all the previously microfilmed records would be available by Monday or if they are doing it in tranches.

I was told (within an email conversation) yesterday that currently registers from just 5 churches are available on that system with more to be added 'over the coming weeks' - no mention of how many weeks are envisaged before completion. Self service copies from this digital register viewer, once its fully operational, will cost £1, so very good value.

I'd emailed them as I've been round and round that website and can find no information whatsoever about copy charges. For me, remote copy requests are the only option, distance, cost of travel and health means that visiting is very unlikely. I asked if the Quick Search Service was to be reactivated, I used that a lot and also praised it widely in RootsChat and elsewhere.

Good news is that even though the online shop not yet reinstated copies of Parish Register entries can still be ordered via Quick Search, currently if you email with specific details: name of parish, name of person, event (baptism, marriage, burial) and year (they will search one year’s worth of entries).

However the Bad News is that there is an 80% price increase from the £5 it used to be to a whopping  £9 !

I have replied and said that though I'd envisaged an increase, I am almost speechless at such a large percentage. It means I won't be able to use it as regularly as I did and given the cost it will drop off my recommendation list.

Boo