On-line Sources
Dr Michael Winstanley's guide to on-line resources for Cumbria
A selection of on-line and digital resources for Cumbrian history
Michael Winstanley
History Department University of Lancaster
From a talk to Cumbria Local History Federation
22 September 2007
This is not a complete listing of all websites but it is intended to cover most of the major catalogues and larger collections of primary sources available. There are clearly many others which are useful, however, and it is amazing just what Google throws up if searches are precisely defined.
General Resources
Vision of Britain
website: www.visionofbritain.org.uk/index
A topographical and historical guide to everywhere.
website: www.visionofbritain.org.uk/index
A topographical and historical guide to everywhere.
On-Line Catalogues
Some General Search Tips
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Be as precise as you can with your search term.
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Use double inverted commas for phrases.
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Try to think of alternative spellings for names, places, activities etc.
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Don’t assume all the contents of an archive are catalogued or online – it is always worth visiting their own website where there are often even fuller catalogues and more sources.
The National Archives
websites: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/?source=home, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/default.asp?j=1 (catalogue)
The first port of call for original records and links to other web sites including integrated search engine for some other catalogues and sources.
websites: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/?source=home, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/default.asp?j=1 (catalogue)
The first port of call for original records and links to other web sites including integrated search engine for some other catalogues and sources.
Equity Pleadings (1625-1714)
website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/equity/
Specific catalogue of one source.
website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/equity/
Specific catalogue of one source.
Access to Archives
website: www.a2a.org.uk/default.asp
On line catalogues for 411 record offices and links to their web sites.
website: www.a2a.org.uk/default.asp
On line catalogues for 411 record offices and links to their web sites.
Manorial Documents Register
websites: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/mdr/default.htm, www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/history/cmr/index.htm (guide and catalogue written by Drs Angus Winchester and Eleanor Straughton, History Dept, Lancaster)- link from MDR site)
Including Cumbria and Lancs North of the Sands.
websites: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/mdr/default.htm, www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/history/cmr/index.htm (guide and catalogue written by Drs Angus Winchester and Eleanor Straughton, History Dept, Lancaster)- link from MDR site)
Including Cumbria and Lancs North of the Sands.
National Register of Archives
website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/
Guide to major holdings of family, business, associational papers wherever they are.
website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/
Guide to major holdings of family, business, associational papers wherever they are.
Royal Historical Society Bibliography
website: www.rhs.ac.uk/bibl/
The best online catalogue of printed material.
website: www.rhs.ac.uk/bibl/
The best online catalogue of printed material.
The British Library
website: www.bl.uk/
website: www.bl.uk/collections/toppage.html‘Turning the Pages’
Catalogue of all books published in Britain; online images, catalogues of manuscripts etc and some images.
website: www.bl.uk/
website: www.bl.uk/collections/toppage.html‘Turning the Pages’
Catalogue of all books published in Britain; online images, catalogues of manuscripts etc and some images.
Original Source Material (free or pay to view)
National Archives Documents on Line
website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
- WW1 Campaign Medals (5459708)
- WW2 Seamen's Medals (108390)
- Famous Wills (103)
- Wills (1016138)
- Death Duty Registers (71740)
- Victorian Prisoners Photograph Albums (626)
- Registers of Seamen's Services (581411)
- Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) (7006)
- French Muster Rolls (5902)
- WW1 Prisoners of War Interviews (3429)
- Royal Naval Division (50108)
- Victoria Cross Registers (1237)
- Ancient Petitions, Henry III - James I (14238)
- Aliens Registration Cards (1257)
- Domesday Book (24208)
- Trafalgar Descendants
British History On line (free)
website: www.british-history.ac.uk/
Includes searchable transcripts of numerous documents mainly ‘early modern’ including the 8 volumes of the Victoria County History of Lancashire.
website: www.british-history.ac.uk/
Includes searchable transcripts of numerous documents mainly ‘early modern’ including the 8 volumes of the Victoria County History of Lancashire.
Collect Britain (Free with option to buy high quality images)
website: www.collectbritain.co.uk/
website: www.collectbritain.co.uk/collections/
More wonderful images from the British Library collection.
website: www.collectbritain.co.uk/
website: www.collectbritain.co.uk/collections/
More wonderful images from the British Library collection.
Census and Other (eg military) records - pay or free via Lancashire County Libraries)
website: www.ancestry.co.uk/
website: www.ancestry.co.uk/
Census and Other records (eg civil registration since 1837 -pay)
website: www.findmypast.com/HomeServlet
website: www.findmypast.com/HomeServlet
1881 census and other records (free) – Family Search (Mormon church)
website: www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp
1881 census available on CD from LDS Distribution Centres in England 399 Garrets Green Lane Birmingham B33 0UH Tel: (44-0121) 7852200 Fax: (44-0121) 7897686.
website: www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp
1881 census available on CD from LDS Distribution Centres in England 399 Garrets Green Lane Birmingham B33 0UH Tel: (44-0121) 7852200 Fax: (44-0121) 7897686.
Church of England Clergy Database (free)
website: www.theclergydatabase.org.uk/
Searchable database of incumbents etc since early modern period.
website: www.theclergydatabase.org.uk/
Searchable database of incumbents etc since early modern period.
Parish Registers ( London ) (pay)
website: www.parishregister.com/default.asp?gclid=CMHnoqC724sCFQ0fEAodw0cLVw
website: www.parishregister.com/default.asp?gclid=CMHnoqC724sCFQ0fEAodw0cLVw
Historical Directories (free)
website: www.historicaldirectories.org/
Local and county directories since c1800.
website: www.historicaldirectories.org/
Local and county directories since c1800.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (free or pay)
website: www.oxforddnb.com/
Charge but free to users of Cumbria Libraries (access from web site).
website: www.oxforddnb.com/
Charge but free to users of Cumbria Libraries (access from web site).
Cumbrian Sources
English Lake District : a living landscape
website: www.cumbrialakes.org/
Images of the Lake counties.
website: www.cumbrialakes.org/
Images of the Lake counties.
Cumbrian Manorial Documents
website: www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/manorialrecords/index.htm
Guide to their use and location (link to National Archives catalogue).
website: www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/manorialrecords/index.htm
Guide to their use and location (link to National Archives catalogue).
Images of Cumbria
website: www.stevebulman.f9.co.uk/cumbria/frames_home.html
Private web site with good quality reproductions and material.
website: www.stevebulman.f9.co.uk/cumbria/frames_home.html
Private web site with good quality reproductions and material.
Guide to the Lakes
website: www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/lakemenu.htm
Private web site with good quality reproductions and material hosted by Portsmouth University.
website: www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/lakemenu.htm
Private web site with good quality reproductions and material hosted by Portsmouth University.
Research Tools and Skills
Calisto Calendars, regnal years etc (FREE Downloadable resource)
website: homepages.tesco.net/~jk.calisto/calisto/index.htm
website: homepages.tesco.net/~jk.calisto/calisto/index.htm
Genmap, LDS Companion and British Surname Atlas (pay)
website: www.archersoftware.co.uk
Mapping and census tools.
website: www.archersoftware.co.uk
Mapping and census tools.
Restricted Access (higher education)
Times Digital Archive (1785-1985)
Searchable newspapers.
Searchable newspapers.
House of Commons Parliamentary Papers
Full searchable text of all reports, papers etc 1801-1900 and 1901-2000.
Full searchable text of all reports, papers etc 1801-1900 and 1901-2000.
Early English Books On line (EEBO)
Digital texts and selected transcripts searchable by word of all books in English before 1700.
Digital texts and selected transcripts searchable by word of all books in English before 1700.
Eighteenth Century Collections On line (ECCO)
Searchable images of all books published in the 18th century.
Searchable images of all books published in the 18th century.
Film and Sound On line
Various collections including Royal Mail films of 1930s (eg Night Mail).
Various collections including Royal Mail films of 1930s (eg Night Mail).
© MMIX - Cumbria Local History Federation