Genealogy

We have an extensive collection of genealogy records for you to use at the Blackburn Central Library.  

Microfilm and microfiche
Many of our records are only available in microfilm or microfiche formats. We have five microfilm readers and seven microfiche readers. Demand is often heavy so we strongly advise advance booking.

Reader printer
The primary function of the reader printer is to make good quality copies from microfilm and microfiche. It will print both A3 and A4, which is a great advantage when printing copies from the large Census pages. Similarly it is also good for printing from broadsheet size newspapers, as more text will fit on one sheet.  There is a charge for this service.

Computers
Computers are available within the community history department. These can be used for accessing the Internet for sites relevant to local and family history, including Ancestry.library edition. 

Photocopying
We allow photocopying of family history material within normal photocopying limits. However we do reserve the right to refuse copying where an item could suffer damage. This is a particular problem with bound volumes and large size maps. 

For further information on any aspect of family history, please contact the Community history manager on (01254) 661221, or e-mail: community.history@blackburn.gov.uk

Census returns

Census returns are produced every 10 years and give information on everyone who was residing at every address on the night the Census was held.  These can be one of the most useful sources of information because they give ages, family relationships, birthplace and occupation.  As well as the 1901 census, we hold copies on microfilm for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 for the Blackburn and Darwen area. 
 

In addition, the 1881 Census for the whole of England, Wales and Scotland is available on microfiche.  The 1891 and 1901 Census are also available on microfiche for Blackburn and Darwen.  A street index is available for all years.  We also have surname indexes for 1851, 1861 and 1891.  Pre-paid vouchers of £5 are on sale in the community history department for use with the 1901 Census.   

 

Register of electors

These are printed copies covering 1857 to date, showing everyone in Blackburn who was allowed to vote. From 1974 Darwen is included.  Initially only a few people had the vote and so not every household will be included. It is purely a list of addresses and names. It does not list ages and occupation.  Due to changes to the Data Protection Act relating to registers of electors, we are only allowed to have an edited version of the current list.
 

Cemetery records

We have microfilm records for the local cemeteries - Blackburn, Darwen and Pleasington.  These are the Borough's cemeteries and do not include church graveyards.  The records cover 1857-1999 for Blackburn; 1861-1991 for Darwen; 1943-1999 for Pleasington (burials only, no cremations are included).  They include all denominations and cover burial registers, grave registers and surname indexes to the registers. A war graves register for Blackburn for 1914-18 and 1939-45 is also included. 

 

Roll of honour

There is a published roll of honour which lists all the Blackburn servicemen killed in the Great War.  There is also a separate volume for Darwen.  To compliment this, we have an extensive collection of cards giving details of local men killed or injured in World War One.  There are also two published volumes of interest - Soldiers died in the Great War: The East Lancashire Regiment (K15) and Soldiers died in the Great War: The Lancashire Fusiliers (K15)  

 

Boyd's marriage index

This covers parishes in Lancashire and Yorkshire from 1538-1837 and is on microfiche.  It is a useful forerunner to the St. Catherine's House Index.  The Lancashire series consists of two sets, which are both arranged in surname order. One is indexed by grooms names. The other by brides.  

The entries give the date, the surname (of groom or bride) and their first name. Then the first name and surname of the spouse. The area where the marriage took place is also given, but not the name of the church.  

 

International genealogical index

This is a microfiche index of births, marriages and deaths mainly taken from parish registers.  It is compiled by the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and covers all of Britain and Ireland.  It is arranged by county and then by surname. Most surnames will then be arranged by first name and in a case where several entries are for the same name they will then be arranged in date order. 

It is not comprehensive (Blackburn for example, is not well covered), and cannot be solely relied on for an accurate reconstruction of a family history. 

 

Parish registers

We keep a selection of parish registers for Blackburn diocese on microfilm. These are Church of England churches only.  The start dates vary depending on the age of the church, but the latest date that our set covers is 1900.  Most churches cover baptisms, marriages and burials, but some churches did not have a burial ground. They are arranged alphabetically by town, then by name of church. They are then arranged in date order, starting with christenings, then marriages, then burials.

A more comprehensive collection that will also include Catholic and Non-Conformist churches can be found at Lancashire Record Office in Preston.

 

General register office indexes

One of the most heavily used set of records in our collection. It is the most comprehensive set in the area and more commonly known as St. Catherine's House Index.  At present, these records are on microfiche but from 2008 they will be available online.  They cover births, deaths and marriages for England and Wales from 1837-2004.    When using them you need to bear in mind that they are just an index and therefore do not include copies of certificates.  They cannot give you an exact date, but are useful to narrow it down to a quarter of a year. The information given will enable you to apply for a certificate.  

We also have a set of overseas records of births, marriages and deaths. These are records of members of the armed forces, people involved with the diplomatic service and other British subjects.  These date from 1767.

To obtain the certificates you will need to contact either the registration officer's office for the area in which the event was recorded or the General Register Office.  There are two registry offices in Blackburn with Darwen, but you will need to make an appointment to visit them.   

Trade directories

Our earliest trade directory dates from 1818 and the last one from 1966.  They were not produced every year and in the first half of the nineteenth century only random years are available. From the 1870’s they were generally published every three years. They cover a wider area than just Blackburn. 

 

There are three main sections in the later volumes which are of use for family history research.

• An alphabetical listing of tradespeople and professional people in the town
  
  
  
• A classified list of trades and professions
  
  
  
• A list of addresses with names of householders

In addition there is usually a short history of the area, listing important civic and religious buildings.