General Register Office - comment

The following comment is given as an example of the situation in 1999 typically found at the GRO by overseas visitors:

"During the summer of 1999 I used both the GRO and the National Library of Ireland. At the National Library I found that I could sit comfortably at a microfilm reader and view the various films of Roman Catholic registers that I needed to see in search of my roots. The service was swift, the surroundings pleasant, airy and clean. However, what an awful shock I got when I visited the GRO. There were too many people in such a small space. The research room was grubby and the furniture and other fittings well beyond the point at which they should have been thrown out. Many of the indexes, which are vital in gaining access to the actual records, were in tatters. I tried to locate a birth in the 1880s but found that in the relevant section of the index the pages jumped, missing out the section of the alphabet I needed. A member of staff very kindly brought me out a duplicate copy of the same volume but it was just the same. When I did at last manage to find a reference to a record I required, I found that even though I had paid a £12 search fee, I would not be allowed to obtain more that eight photocopies. I had intended to search for the birth of my great grandfather, James (O')Neill, who was born about 1870. However, when I saw just how many possible references there were to be checked in just the years 1869 to 1871 I did not bother. The limit of the eight photocopies and their cost, set at £1.50 each, made the whole idea a none starter. I was very disappointed with the service I received in the GRO, though the staff themselves were extremely helpful, just over-worked. A second copy of the GRO microfilms should definitely be made available as soon as possible at the National Library."

This quote is an excerpt from submissions made to the CIGO GRO Petition from 1999, which can be seen here.