Local groups celebrate the census

THE Frome Society for Local Studies (FSLS), Frome Museum and the Family History Group, have collaborated on a project to celebrate this year’s census.

About the project, which launched last year in March, Liz Corfield from FSLS said “The aim was that we would set up a working party and meet regularly to discuss our progress and help each other out with some indecipherable handwriting, amongst other things.

“Covid-19 put a stop to all that, although we did meet in the garden of one of our group of 12 in the lull between lockdowns last summer.

“We’ve overcome the difficulties and have managed to transcribe details of residents from 18 streets around the town including some lesser known ones such as Coffin Spring Lane, Grope Lane and Edgells Lane (Spring Lane, Trinity Row and Justice Lane). 

“We each chose which street or streets we wished to record and set to using Ancestry and Find My Past mainly. The censuses we have covered start at 1841 and at ten yearly intervals to 1911, so 8 census years per street.  

“Although censuses have been carried out since 1801, the 1841 census was the first to record names and is therefore of particular genealogical significance.  

“The amount of information provided has increased year on year from the basic name, age, occupation and whether born in county to number of years married, number of children born, whether still alive or dead, whether employer or employed and the number of rooms in house occupied.  

“They are a wonderful resource for family historians. Plus we have transcribed the 1939 Register for our chosen streets.  The latter was speedily put together when war broke out so that National Identity cards could be produced for everyone.  It also was used as the basis for the NHS Register in 1948.  The names of those who may possibly still be alive are redacted.  

“The 1921 census, which will be available to researchers in 2022 on Find My Past, will be the last one that is accessible until the census of 1951 becomes available, probably in 2052, by which time those of us in the group will probably be long gone. (I would be 101).  

“Records of the 1931 census were destroyed during the Second World War and none was taken in 1941 because of the war. 

“Our aim is now to deposit all of our work with the museum and the library for others to use for their own research. It has certainly been a worthwhile project and it’s been interesting to see the waxing and waning of the fortunes of the streets and their occupants.  

“Plus, as it turns out, it has helped a number of us have a sense of purpose during what has been a difficult time for so many. 

“If you would like to hear about our research one of our team will be talking via Zoom on May 22nd.   The talk will be hosted by FSLS.  If you are interested please contact info@ fsls.org.uk for more information.”