“What a fantastic resource !
I found out more in an hour at the Museum
than in three weeks at the record office”

At the Weardale Museum we have a unique and powerful family history resource - a full transcript of the complete census of the entire parish of Stanhope (all of Weardale from Frosterley to Killhope) for all of the census years 1841-1901. Altogether there are about 60,000 records, held as paper files and on the computer in Excel spreadsheet format. 

Our computer records are all linked to a ‘Family History’ program which can sometimes produce amazing family trees.

The paper files can be browsed at your leisure during museum hours. Very rapid searches can be carried out on the computer files - eg. all 214 Pearts and their information from the 1841 census can be displayed in seconds.

In addition to census information we also have

MI transcriptions for most Weardale burial grounds:
Presbyterian Church Baptisms at Ireshopeburn 1783-1820
Tithe Maps and Apportionments for StanhopeForest and Park Quarters
Marriages at St Johns Chapel 1867 -
Stanhope Municipal Cemetery Burial Register 1872 -
Collection of Weardale wills
Collections of Weardale genealogies
Collections of Family Letter - Watson, Fleming, Graham, etc
Old maps - 1851, 1857, 1896
Transcripts of Deeds
Stories of Weardale Emigrants
Postcard Collection of Weardale places.

To avoid disappointment in viewing our computer files it is recommended that you telephone or e-mail a few days before your intended visit since not all of our volunteer stewards are able to help. (01388) 517208 or (01388)517433

The Trustees of the Weardale Museum are grateful to the Friends and supporters who have gathered this information and for giving their permission to share it with other family history researchers.

If you are doing research from a distance we can conduct a search for you. There are no formal charges but donations are appreciated for this service.

Click here to make your donation using a downloadable gift aid form.

Unfortunately our records do not extend out of the Parish of Stanhope. (We are currently adding Wolsingham Parish census to our records)

For more information e-mail

ken.heatherington@btinternet.com or telephone (01388)517208
dtheatherington@ormail.co.uk or telephone (01388)517433


If you are planning to visit the area for a few days see our page on Accommodation