THIS photograph depicts a scene which many of us are now familiar with and takes place across the whole country - the completion of a census return.

Rose Shuttleworth is seen in the photograph filling in the census with relatives in 1891 at her family house, Collyers, located in Steep, near Petersfield.

Not only were family members present, including Rose’s mother, Susan Kemp, but also a number of servants whose birthplaces range from Hampshire to Norwich, Westminster and Kent; an indication of how extensively our ancestors travelled for work and family before the advent of the 20th century.

Alongside family members and servants was a visitor to the household whose information was also entered into the census alongside the Shuttleworths. This could be particularly perplexing and confusing for any researcher looking for this visitor at their usual home address.

Censuses are a fantastic resource for family history, having taken place every ten years since 1801, with the exception of 1941. The census offers a wealth of information including names, relationships, marital status, age, occupation, address and more.

At Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, we hold microfiche copies of the census returns for Hampshire from 1841 to 1901 and even some earlier returns, including one for Fordingbridge from 1801.

Census records from 1801 to 1911 can be accessed online through Ancestry or Findmypast, which you can use free of charge at Hampshire Archives and Local Studies.

Among these is the census return which Rose Shuttleworth filled in when the photograph was taken. Included within this census return is information concerning the relationship of the individual to the head of the household (Rose Shuttleworth), if the individual was married and also if they were ‘Deaf and Dumb, Blind, Lunatic, Imbecile or Idiot’.

The census offers a window into the attitudes and perceptions of society in the past and how they have since changed.

There are limitations, as with all historical sources, with census records.

It was not until 1841 that the census first listed the names of every individual and census records can only be currently accessed up until 1911.

Furthermore, there are often discrepancies in age since many people didn’t know how old they actually were.

Our first workshop of 2017, An Introduction to Family History Sources, will be perfect for anybody who has been inspired by recent episodes of Who Do You Think You Are?

The workshop will focus on how archival records, including census records, can help you discover your ancestor’s past.

The workshop will take place on February 28 (2-4pm). Cost: £14; advance booking required.

Further workshops are planned, covering house history to palaeography (reading old handwriting).

Keep up to date with our future events by visiting our website www.hants.gov.uk/archives or following us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HampshireArchives or Twitter @hantsarchives.

Matthew Goodwin

Archivist, Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Hampshire Record Office, Winchester