A few years ago, a number of enthusiastic members researching the North of England, formed the Northern Counties Special Interest Group; mainly focused on Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland and Westmoreland (‛Cumbria’ these days). North Yorkshire was included and our group has further expanded to embrace two or three Lancastrians.

Our main purpose, certainly to begin with, was to survey what records we already held in the Library, to fill in the ‛gaps' and to build up the collection by fund-raising, and also by getting together to share the cost of buying Parish Registers, Census films and fiche of particular interest to our members.

We also aim to share information as:

1. We have a wealth of local knowledge as there are a number of ‛natives’ of the area amongst the Group.
2. We can provide help with individual problems - especially for ‛new’ family historians.
3. We lend books, videos and any items of local interest amongst ourselves.

We subscribe to the magazine ‛The Northumbrian’ as we have many members with interests specifically in Northumberland and Durham. Other magazines are under consideration.

Our achievements up to date are:

1. Complete 1841 Census for Cumberland. (The original not just the index)
2. Complete 1851 Census (as above) for County Durham
3. Complete 1851 Census for Westmoreland. (as above)
4. Additions to 1851 Census for Northumberland and specific areas of interest to our members in Yorkshire and Lancashire. We are currently fund raising for these areas.
5. Greatly improved collection of Parish Records for Cumbria – there were very few in the Library four years ago.
6. Gradual acquisition of Parish Records for Northumberland and Durham - a slow process due to the high cost involved.
7. Completed 1891 Census for Tyneside -ie. The whole of Newcastle on the North bank and Gateshead to South Shields on the South bank.
8. The 1891 Census is complete for the Stockton to Darlington area of Durham
9. The 1891 Census is also complete Penrith in Cumberland.

We are gradually adding as much of 1891 census as possible for all our area, as funds allow.

We have two major projects in progress:

1. Transcribing the 'Durham Land Tax 1759 - 1830.' for Durham Record Office
2. Transcribing Parish Registers for the North Yorkshire Record Office.

The Durham project has enabled us to have a mutually beneficial relationship with the Durham folk. We are delighted that they have now asked us to type up Parish Register indexes from their own transcribers' original notes, for use in the Record Office. None of these Indexes appears on the IGI, nor anywhere else as yet. Consequently, we now hold in the Library copies of the first two completed-“Redmarshall Burials” and “Great Stainton Baptisms and Burials”.

Our Group is an enthusiastic and friendly one. Come join us sometime.