1921 census (General)

by fredb , Sunday, July 12, 2009, 14:29 (5687 days ago)

Hello Friends of the Forest
I started a topic on Rootschat (I may have grumbled here too?)in which I grumbled about having to wait to view the 1921 census, I can't be the only one who wants to find out where somebody went. A poll attached to that topic shows 67% agree the time period to view should be reduced to 50 years, but some other facts? came out of the comments.

One person says that the 1920 act is worded that the details within the later census will never be released.
Hardly anything of the 1931 census survives due to the war
No 1941 census took place because of the war
So the next census that survives is 1951, and I bet a lot of us are in that census, I'd like to have a copy, but there's nothing I need to know. But wouldn't it be wonderful to see your street and names of people you might have forgotten about.

One comment states that because of the freedom of information act we can ask to see any government document, the problem is it could cost us £250. I suggested that if the 1921 census was available to view in person, by people carrying ID, I would be happy to pay a reasonable fee. After all we are only asking to see what is our family information, it belongs to us. Each county could hold the census at their archive offices and charge a fee for copies as they do for other records. Would any reasonable person object to that? Has anyone tried?

Anyway I plan to find out if I can view 1921, but there is no way I'm going to pay £250. cheers Fred