Each Register Office within Northumberland keeps the original Births, Deaths and Marriages Registers for its own District from 1837 to the present day.

However, some marriage registers used by the Church of England or other places of worship may not have been completed and registers will remain at the church. If we do not hold your entry we will return your application, supplying the name and address of the person who does.

 

How to Apply for a Historical Search

Details required to fill out an application:

• Name of church, chapel or Register Office
• Date of wedding
• Name of one or both the parties married

If the entry is not held at our Register Office we will try to advise on the Registration District that may hold the entry.

 

Once you have determined the record you require, you can apply for the certificate by: -

• Writing with the details, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope and a cheque or postal order payable to Northumberland County Council.
• For applications from abroad, payment should be in Pound Sterling by a cheque drawn with a UK address on the cheque, accompanied by international reply paid coupons.
• In person at the Register Office, where you will fill out an application form and pay the appropriate fee.

 

The current fee for a copy of a Marriage certificate is £10.00. 

 

Historical Records

Often, these applications can take longer to find. The information we require is as follows: -

• Name of one or both parties married
• Year, quarter and district
• Precise church or parish where it took place

If you are intent on doing some detailed family research our Register Offices do have the facility to allow personal searches, however this is by appointment only, and a charge will be levied for this facility.

 

The current charge is £18.00 for 6 hours.

 

Additional Resources

If you are unsure about certain information there are other avenues you can explore before contacting the Register Office, these include:

• The Family Records Centre, 1, Myddleton Street, London
• The Census - these are available to the public 1801-1901
• Parish Registers
• Bishop's Transcripts - from approximately 1600 onwards
• Inscriptions on gravestones

 

The above list is not exhaustive, and each individual Register Office will attempt to help you. Furthermore, Northumberland have their own Archive Office at:

Woodhorn,
Queen Elizabeth II Country Park,
Ashington,
NE63 9YF

Tel: 01670 528080

E-mail: collections@woodhorn.org.uk