Delve into County Durham’s historic registration records

Superintendent registrar Anne Robson (centre) alongside fellow registrars Jennifer Elliott (left) and Lesley Robinson (right), outside of The Story.

County Durham residents can take a fascinating look at the history of the county’s registrars and registration documents next week.

Durham County Council’s popular culture, heritage and registration venue, The Story, is hosting a talk delivered by superintendent registrar, Anne Robson, and ceremony coordination team leader, Wendy Addison-Smyth.

The pair will explain how registration began in 1837, at the point when registrars became responsible for legally recording births, deaths and marriages.

These records now form the archival material used by researchers, family historians, and anyone tracing significant life events.

Registrars sent quarterly copies of all entries to the superintendent registrar, who forwarded them to the Registrar General, creating both a local and central copy, which is now held at the General Register Office (GRO) in Southport.

The GRO also maintains special registers, including stillbirths, events at sea or in aircraft, armed forces records, consular registrations and WWI and WWII service deaths.

The talk will highlight how registration has also helped document notable County Durham stories, from the birth of former England football manager Sir Bobby Robson in Sacriston in 1933 to the deaths of the victims of Mary Ann Cotton, believed to be Britain’s first female serial killer.

Carolyn Ball, county archivist and manager at The Story, said: “With more than 40 years’ experience working as one of our registrars, Anne has seen people through some of the biggest changes of their lives, whether that be marrying the love of their life and celebrating the arrival of their children, or registering the loss of a loved one.

“Together, Anne and Wendy will be able to share some fascinating stories from the history of our registration documents. They’ll also have both original historic and modern registers on display for visitors to explore, making for an educational and enlightening evening.”

The talk takes place on Thursday 2 April from 6pm until 7pm. Tickets cost £5 and include refreshments. To book visit www.thestorydurham.org/whats-on