Can anyone tell me when registry office weddings first took place in the FoD and where the offices were? Are there any plans to transcribe or record these weddings.I have recently received a marriage certificate from 1872 in the Westbury district and wondered if the ceremonies took place there or whether it was just the recording office.Many years ago all the births {including mine]were registered there.Was it the same for weddings?
Any help would be appreciated.
Maurice

Hi Maurice

My Great Grandparents and Great Great Grandparents were married at the Register Office Westbury on Severn in 1882 & 1853. I have both certificates and the place of marriage is clearly shown as Register Office Westbury on Severn.

Jim Ashton

From 1837, marriages could take place in a local register office, instead of a church, I'm not sure when Westbury on Severn was introduced as a district but probably soon after 1st July 1837. The records seem to be from 1837 - 1937.

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Hi Maurice
Civil marriages physically took place at the office of the Superintendent Registrar (the local doctor or solicitor often held this post, and his clerk was usually the Registrar), generally in the district in which one or other of the couple had their residence.
Whilst a couple may have been devout Bible Christians, for example, if their non-Church of England chapel was not registered for marriages, they popped down to the Register office for a legal civil marriage and then back to chapel for a religious ceremony. This is still the case today.

My great-grandad Simeon Harris and his wife Selina williams were married in Westbury on Severn RO on 5th may 1962 even thought he was, according to my father, a lay preacher with the Forest Bible Christians.

Regards, Celia

Can anyone tell me where the Westbury on Severn Register Office used to be?

Hi Dot,
this seems to be a tricky one as discussed in the past, see above.

I've studied the old OS maps without finding it either, sorry, no doubt someone will know !. I've asked my stepsister who was married there, but she can't remember as "it was an early 60s blur"...!

Cinderford is the current FoD R. Office, they might know:

Cinderford Registry Office
The Oaks
Belle Vue Centre
6 Belle Vue Road
Cinderford
Glos.
GL14 2AB
United Kingdom

E-mail:forestofdean.ro AT gloucestershire.gov.uk

Telephone: 01242 532455 according to the Glos Council website altho it's a Cheltenham area code !?
Cinderford direct line used to be 01594 822113, probably worth trying ?

ALL THAT SAID, as the old W-o-S Registration District became part of Gloucester Rural District in 1937, I suppose the Westbury Records etc would now be part of the Gloucester Office so maybe they're the people to ask ?.
http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/gloucester%20rural.html

Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Shire Hall
Gloucester
GL1 2TG
United Kingdom
E-mail:cheltenham.ro AT gloucestershire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01242 532455

Hope this helps in some small roundabout way !.
Better still, hopefully another forum member actually knows !!.
Good luck.

I have a feeling that the Registrar's office was associated with the Union workhouse buildings - the infamous "1 High Street" address. If so then the buildings are demolished and in the area of the recent housing development at Colchester Close junction of High Street.

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

The registry office was situated on High St Westbury and as suggested was knocked down at the time of Colchester Close being built.The old Workhouse was farther back from the High St although still addressed there.I visited both of these places,first the Workhouse with a friend of mine who helped provide entertainment for the occupants in the 1950s and I registered my youngest son at the registry office in 1963.
Maurice

Another good team result, cheers gents. I knew it may not be specifically highlighted on the old OS Maps but occasionally they do show something "off the norm". It did look like the Workhouse locality was most likely given it's central "Number One" address and other key village features/buildings nearby, but like S I wasn't absolutely certain, so thanks Maurice for confirming it.

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2017 Update, the excellent Workhouse site confirms the above location and far more.
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/WestburyOnSevern/