Online register search help
FAQs
What Are The Search Charges?
This is a free site. There are no hidden charges.
Then Why Are You Duplicating The Free Bmd Site?
The free BMD site works from the GRO records, whereas our local BMD site works from the original records. Since the start of registration in 1837 a birth, marriage and death event was recorded at the local Register Office.
Every 3 months these records were re-transcribed and sent to GRO where they were copied and re-indexed.
At each point where data was copied and re-indexed there was scope for errors and omissions.
No index can ever claim to be 100% accurate, but by working from the original records we aim to be as accurate as possible (in spite of indecipherable writing, as our volunteers will confirm).
Will Your Site Cover England And Wales?
This site will only cover the records we have in our possession located in the South Tyneside District. To find records from other parts of the country you will have to search other local websites or websites that do cover the whole of the country.
What Areas Are Covered By South Tyneside?
The areas our records cover are:
- Westoe 1837 – 1898
- South Shields 1898 – 2001
- South Tyneside 2001 to present
- Jarrow 1837 to present
- Whitburn 1837 to present
- Harton Rural 1920 to present
- Cleadon 1837 to present
- Boldons 1837 to present
- Hebburn* before 1938 and 1974 to present
*Between 1938 and 1974 Hebburn came under the Gateshead Registration District on Births and Deaths only. Marriages remain in the South Tyneside District.
Please check the Register Search page to see which of these records are searchable.
I Have A GRO Reference, Can I Quote This When Applying For A Certificate?
The GRO reference only identifies the region. The reference number we are quoting is the District, Register No and Entry No for Births and Deaths. Marriage references cover the church Register and Entry No.
As well as helping the applicant, this also speeds up the service the Register Office offers by cutting down on search time.
How Much Do Certificates Cost?
The local Register Office charge £7.00 per certificate. The General Register Office charge £11.50 when applying by post. So you can see it is far cheaper searching your local district and receiving certificates from your local office.
How Do I Search Your Website?
Once you have confirmed your search is in South Tyneside enter the Surname and Forenames (if known) and the year (or range of years). This will bring up the entries that match your criteria. The entry you choose will give you the reference ie District, Reg No and Entry No.
What If There Is More Than One Entry That Matches My Criteria And I Am Not Sure Which Is The One I Want?
If this is the case, when you apply to the Register Office give all references that may apply. You must also give extra details concerning the entry you want,
Birth:
- father's full name
- mother’s full name and maiden surname
Death:
- age at death
- occupation of the deceased
- address if know
- for a woman, husbands full name or partners name if single
We will not sell you a certificate if the details do not match.
Once I Have Decided To Order A Certificate Or Have Multiple Entries To Verify, Who Do I Contact?
Your contact the Local Register by post at 18 Barrington Street, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 1AH. By telephone: 0191 4553915. By e-mail: registrars@southtyneside.gov.uk You can also contact the Register Office through the Local Authority Website.
At the moment we have no electronic ordering system.
Cheques are made payable to ‘South Tyneside Council’. If you are ordering more than one certificate it is preferable to make out a separate cheque for each search, then if one search is unsuccessful we need only return the cheque for that search and issue on the remaining.
Do you Have Any Addresses To Help Me In My Search