OLD HALL ST

[Marie]

I have been given a number of possible GRO References for a marriage and a birth from someone in the South of England who has asked me to go and look at them? I know they took place in Liverpool but just have the GRO reference. I have been told I can go into Old Hall Street and request to check them out. Is this correct?

[MaryA]

The GRO index references are meaningless to the Liverpool Register Office, although the years and quarters would be of assistance.

Before you do that I would suggest that you check the names against those transcribed on www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as you may find the churches the marriages took place in. Also www.familysearch.org or http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/

If you find the churches you could check them at the Record Office, 4th floor William Brown Street library, for free.

Note that if the LancsBMD site says the marriage was "Register Office or Registrar Attended" then it may have taken place in an RC church and you would have to try the nearest Catholic Church to where they were living.

[Marie]

I have tried that and it has eliminated one of them. I have two possible marriages and one birth GRO ref. Would they help if I went in? I remember going into Brome Terrace years ago and they were helpful. I guess things may be different now.

Thanks Marie.

[MaryA]

As I said above, the GRO references are meaningless to the Register Office which has it's own references - those from LancashireBMD. The year and quarter are of course essential.

You can try calling in but I wouldn't be sure they could take the time these days, apparently they are extremely busy with orders for certificates taking a number of weeks.

If you are in town anyway, by all means call in and ask but I would hesitate about making a trip in just for that.

A letter might do the trick, if you write all the details that you have especially if you have the criteria of a father's name, and send your cheque, they will usually return it if it's the wrong entry.