Family History

Interested in tracing your family? The London Borough of Havering provides a number of services that can help.

Local Studies

During the closure of the Central Library for refurbishment the following temporary arrangements are in place for local and family history.

Ancestry

If you are tracing your family tree you can now use ANCESTRY at Hornchurch and Upminster libraries.  It's available on any of the People's Network machines there using your library card.  Researching from home?  Vouchers for use on  and  can be purchased from Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster libraries.  A volunteer is at hand to help on Mondays 10.30-11.30am at Hornchurch Library and on Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm at Upminster Library.

Ancestry Workshops at Upminster

Find out how to use Ancestry Shortcuts and Search Techniques. Hands on sessions basic computer skills required.

FREE

Spaces limited

Pre booking essential

Saturday 1 November 1.30pm

Monday 9 November 2pm

Thursday 12 November 10.30am and 2pm call Upminster library on 01708 434933 to book

Hornchurch Library

A representative collection of the key books relating to the history of the London Borough of Havering are available for consultation in the Reference Section of Hornchurch Library and for most general local history enquiries this will be the best starting point. Telephone 01708 434907.

In addition microfilm/microfiche of the following are available for consultation at Hornchurch Library.

Newspapers

• Essex Times (microfilm) 1866 - 1937
• Romford Times (microfilm) 1913 - 1968
• Hornchurch and Romford Express (microfilm) 1969 - 1979
• Romford Recorder (microfilm) 1934 - 1982 & 2001 to date
• Hornchurch and Upminster News (microfilm) 1936 - 1965
• Hornchurch and Upminster Echo (microfilm) 1965 - 1974
• Havering Echo (microfilm) 1974 - 1980

Please book microfilm/fiche reader in advance

Census

Census records are held for the registration districts within the modern day London Borough of Havering 1901. 1891, 1881, 1871, 1861, 1851, 1841 (microfilm/fiche)

Parish Registers

The following are available on microfiche or microfilm. Dates are for earliest and latest. Coverage varies for individual ceremonies.

• Cranham, All Saints baptisms, marriages and burials mid C16th to mid C20th
• Havering-atte-Bower, St. John the Evangelist christenings, marriages, banns and burials mid C17th to early C20th
• Hornchurch, St. Andrews baptisms, marriages and burials mid C16th to late C19th.
• North Ockendon, St. Mary Magdalene baptisms, marriages and burials late C16th to early C19th
• Rainham, St. Helen & St. Giles baptisms, marriages banns and burials 1570 to mid C20th.
• Romford, Congregational Church, Bethel Chapel baptisms 1812 - 1837
• Romford, St. Edward the Confessor baptisms, banns, marriages and burials mid C16th to mid C19th.
• Romford, Wesleyan Chapel baptisms 1835 - 1837
• Upminster, Congregational Church, Upminster Hill Independent Chapel baptisms 1801 - 1837
• Upminster, St. Laurence baptisms, marriages and burials mid C16th to early C20th
• Wennington, St. Mary and St. Peter mid C17th to mid C20th

This library offers free access to Ancestry.com through the Peoples Network for library members (see below).

Upminster Library

The following are available as well as other family history resources not relating to the London Borough of Havering.

• GRO index to births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales 1837 - 1950 (microfiche )
• I.G.I. 1992 edition. United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Channel Isles) (Microfiche)
• Crow Lane Cemetery burial index 1871 - 1953 (CD-Rom)
• St. Andrew's Church, Hornchurch burial index 1576 - 2000 (CD-Rom).
• Soldiers Died In The Great War (CD-ROM)
• Army Roll Of Honour 1939 - 45 (CD-ROM)

Please book microfilm/fiche reader in advance

A substantial Family History book collection is also available for consultation in the library.  Telephone 01708 251052.

This library offers free access to Ancestry.com through the Peoples Network for library members (see below)

Ancestry

If you are tracing your family tree you can now use ANCESTRY at Hornchurch and Upminster libraries.  It's available on any of the People's Network machines there using your library card.  Researching from home?  Vouchers for use on www.1901censusonline.com and www.findmypast.com can be purchased from Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster libraries.  A volunteer is at hand to help on Mondays 10.30-11.30am at Hornchurch Library and on Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm at Upminster Library.

Enquiry Service

Staff also have some access to other parts of the collection and a remote enquiry service is available.

Material includes:-

• Maps
• Illustrations
• Electoral registers – Romford Constituency 1938 and 1939 then from 1955, Hornchurch Constituency from 1945, Upminster Constituency from 1971 a more detailed list is available on application.
• Pamphlet collection
• Rate Books 1839 - 1900 (mainly Romford area)
• Council Minutes – Romford Urban District Council 1900 – 1937, Romford Borough 1937 - 1965, Hornchurch Urban District Council 1938 - 1965
• Romford Recorder 1983 - 2000
• Books including sale catalogues etc.

PLEASE CONTACT

By post to

Simon Donoghue

Local Studies Librarian

c/o Rainham Library

7-11, The Broadway

Rainham

RM13 7RD