History

A picture of the past

Acensus has been held in England and Wales every decade since 1801 except in 1941 because of World War Two.

Looking back at the data gathered by the census gives us a picture of what life was like and how our society has developed over the decades. Historians and people interested in tracing their family tree find the information held in the censuses invaluable for their research.

The censuses from 1841 to 1911 are available online via commercial websites such as Ancestry and Findmypast, where, for a subscription charge, you can search and download information from the censuses, about the people or places you are interested in.

Local historians Jenny Townshend and Julian Hunt helped to produce posters for the “High Street on Parade” exhibition in 2014. Much of the information they gathered about the residents living and working in the buildings on Bromsgrove High Street was gained from researching the censuses. The posters are available to view on The Bromsgrove Society website: www.bsoc.

co.uk/our-town/high-street-posters

Similarly, anyone who has watched the TV programmes A House Through Time or Who Do You Think You Are? will have seen how a picture of a family or building’s past is built up from entries in the census.

The census records shown here from 1871 and 1901 tell the story of the Jefferies family who lived on Bromsgrove High Street. The head of the household completed their census forms on the allocated census date and would have given the form to the enumerators (census officials). The enumerators would complete the forms for families where no-one in the household could read or write.

Between 1841 and 1901 the enumerator copied the details given onto a master form and this is what survives today. In 1911 the original forms were kept, with each household having its own form.

Data collected each ten years is kept confidential for 100 years so there is excitement about data from the 1921 Census which will be released next year.

By completing this year’s census, you will give future generations an insight into what it was like to live during a pandemic and how it has affected our lives. So much of what we know about the past, on an individual or town level, is known because our ancestors played their part and completed the census. It is important that we all should do the same for those who come after us.

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