FAQs
See below for answers to our frequently asked questions. If you require further information, please email archives@lincsinspire.com or call (01472) 325389
Many indexes and copies of sources for family history are held at Grimsby Central Library.
The North East Lincolnshire Archives (NELA) holds many original documents, including records concerning the history of fishing and shipping, as well as Public Records (records of government agencies such as Coroners, Courts and HM Customs).
For more information about Family History records held in Archives, click here.
Lincolnshire Archives in Lincoln is the Diocesan Record Office for the area and holds original parish registers (copies of many are in the Archives at Grimsby), Bishop’s Transcripts of registers and wills proved before 1858.
NELA has a list of archive offices throughout the British Isles. You can also look at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/.
In the first place, approach the Secretary of the Grimsby Fishing Owners’ Association at: Office F6, The Enterprise Village, Prince Albert Gardens, Grimsby, DN31 3AT. Telephone: (01472) 355441. The Association has records from 1961 onward.
Ask first at the school, but if your old school has closed down, or if the registers of admission are no longer kept at the school, you can contact NELA, which holds many old admission registers (be warned, not all school admission registers survive).
NELA does not hold any examination results. If your old school cannot help, you may be able to get information from the Examination Board. In North East Lincolnshire, this is often through www.ocr.org.uk.
The surviving records of the Brighowgate Children’s Home (which opened in Grimsby in 1913) are held at NELA. If the admission registers are more than 100 years old they are open to the public. If they are not that old, you can only get your own information by completing a search form and asking the staff at NELA to search for you. There is no charge.
NELA holds the fishing apprenticeship registers for Grimsby, which contain entries for over 7,000 apprentices, dating from 1879 to 1937. NELA also has over 38,000 crew lists, dating from 1863 and 1914 and the fishing boat registers, with entries for more than 4,000 vessels (1824 to 1988). In addition, NELA has the records of many companies engaged in fishing, shipping, shipbuilding and related maritime industries.
NELA holds the minutes and many other records of the abolished Borough, Urban Districts (UDC) and Rural Districts (RDC) in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. They include Barton UDC, Brigg UDC, Cleethorpes Borough, Glanford Brigg RDC, Grimsby Borough, Grimsby RDC, Roxby-with-Risby RDC, Scunthorpe UDC and Scunthorpe Borough, Winterton UDC, and the four Humberside Borough Councils (1974-96) of Cleethorpes, Glanford, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. Records of the Isle of Axholme RDC are held at East Riding of Yorkshire Archives in Beverley. For the records of old Lincolnshire authorities outside North and North East Lincolnshire contact Lincolnshire Archives in Lincoln.
- Parish registers from the eleven northern deaneries of Lincolnshire (no index of personal names)
International Genealogical Index (1992) for England.
Cleethorpes cemetery: index of burials (1877-1990) and microfilm of registers 1877-1999.
Grimsby cemeteries: index of burials, and microfilm of registers, 1855-1970.
Grimsby Borough: registers of electors, 1863-1900.
Port of Grimsby registers of fishing apprentices, 1880-1937, and registers of ships, 1824-1918.
Nonconformist churches – we hold very few records of the Baptist, Congregational or Methodist churches. Most of the surviving nonconformist records for the area are held at the Lincolnshire Archives.
Some other microfilms are kept at the Grimsby Central Library, including local census returns and the General Register Office (“GRO”) index.
We advise you not to bring small children. There are only a few seats and they are needed for searchers. There are no lounge or refreshment facilities in the Archives.
You will need to complete and sign an attendance form.
Yes. You can do this by phoning (01472) 325389. Some original documents are fragile, so you may have to look at microfilms to help preserve the originals. One microfiche viewer can be adjusted to most standard wheelchairs. If you think you may require any adjustments to be made, please contact us before your visit.
Researchers are welcome to stay for the entire day. Please note, however, that the Search Room is closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1pm.
The records in our custody relate principally to those areas of the historic county of Lincolnshire that now lie within North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. However, some of our collections contain items that relate to other parts of the United Kingdom and the wider world.
