Grin and bear it. Remember that many of the items you will be allowed access to have considerable monetary value on the open market as well as being unique, and being able to identify who had access to a missing or damaged document is part of the deterrent against theft. Three additional comments which I hope are helpful: 1) if you'd rather spend the 15 minutes or so this process could take in doing real research, you could look for a member of the CARN network more local to you, and get you card there in advance. There is a PDF document here that lists them. http://www.archives.org.uk/general/county-archive-research-network-carn.html If you are only using fiche or file, rather than original documents, then generally you will not need the CARN card. 2) You can normally order documents up in advance of getting there, so they are waiting for you when you arrive (rather than have to wait for the periodic document retrieval). In any case, it is always worth checking that the documents you want to look at are available (e.g. not withdrawn for conservation), and what format they are in, as this will help with planning your use of time. 3) I'd recommend if you have a few minutes to spare popping into the Norfolk FHS at Kirby House and seeing what they have available. While you need to be a member to use the resources, the annual membership fee is less than your travel costs will be, and I'm sure if they are not too busy, someone would be only too happy to identify what they have that would help you if you did join (assuming you are not already a member). Details of location and times of opening here: http://www.norfolkfhs.org.uk/library/library.htm regards Keith Drage Swindon UK > -----Original Message----- > From: norfolk-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:norfolk-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Treetopsfarm@aol.com > Sent: 05 January 2012 08:31 > To: norfolk@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [NFK] NRO > > > Their security is tighter than my Dr. surgery! Thanks for the info. > > Richard > > > In a message dated 05/01/2012 03:38:36 GMT Standard Time, > drageke@ntlworld.com writes: > > A passport will help but may not be sufficient. Take something > additionally > that links your name to a valid address (a utility bill or > suchlike). A UK > passport will not do that. > > I found the following text on another record office site but the > requirements should be much the same. > > "CARN tickets can be issued on the day of your visit. You will need to > complete a simple form and produce some proof of identity with your name, > current address and signature such as: > > Driving licence (which contains all three pieces of information > required on > one document) > Bank / credit card > Passport (note that UK passports do not give your address) > Bank statement > Utility bill > Post Office savings book > Disabled person's registration > Pension book > Some of these will need to be used together." > > > regards > > Keith Drage > Swindon UK > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: norfolk-bounces@rootsweb.com > > [mailto:norfolk-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Treetopsfarm@aol.com > > Sent: 04 January 2012 13:34 > > To: norfolk@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [NFK] NRO > > > > > > Thanks David - I'll take my passport! > > > > Richard > > > > > > In a message dated 04/01/2012 12:46:04 GMT Standard Time, > > david@rudram.org > > writes: > > > > I agree that NRO is a nice modern RO with helpful staff. > They'll let > > you look at microform records with minimal formalities but you'll need > > to identify your self if you want access to original > documents. NRO is > > a member of CARN (County Archive Research Network) so if you already > > have a card that will be all that you need. If you don't or it's > > expired like mine was this summer you'll need to provide proof of > > identity. I can't recall what they wanted but if you have two pieces > > with a photograph and an address between them is the usually what is > > needed. > > > > David Rudram > > > > On 04/01/2012 11:36, Treetopsfarm@aol.com wrote: > > > Actually, yours was the first! Many thanks for the NROCAT > idea - I'll > > > look at that before I go and have a plan ready! This forum is > > so much > > better > > > than most I've joined - must be the members! > > > > > > Thanks again > > > > > > Richard > > > > > > > > > In a message dated 04/01/2012 11:30:00 GMT Standard Time, > > > elizgh@btinternet.com writes: > > > > > > Hi, I am sure you will have had many encouraging emails in > > > response . NRO is fine , a good place helpful staff and a fairly > > simple > > > indexing system to both parishes and names . I have > just googled > > NROCAT > > > and in the quick search box put Harbord and there are some > 29 pages > of > > > references to Harbord . It looks as if you could spend a > > month there > > on > > > the Harbords !!! > > > > > > > > > > > > life is hard . soften it with a cat \\\=^..^=/// > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From:<Treetopsfarm@aol.com> > > > To:<norfolk@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 8:47 AM > > > Subject: [NFK] NRO > > > > > > > > >> Hi all > > >> > > >> I have two relatives who are working with me on our > mutual family > of > > >> Harbords. Although Jean (NFK lister) has been extremely > > helpful > > in > > >> overcoming > > >> a "brick wall", more unresolved questions have come to > > light. As the > > UK > > >> representative of the family group, I feel it is down to > > me to make > > the > > > > > >> trip > > >> to study what documents I can find in Norfolk that are not > > online. I > > >> have > > >> read that the Norwich Record Office contains a lot of > > material, but > > can > > >> anyone advise me who has been there - Is it available for public > > >> scrutiny? > > >> Do you have to book? Do you have to pay and if so, how much? Is > > the > > >> information detailed? > > >> > > >> I would be very grateful for any advice, and also if > there are any > > other > > >> recommended places to visit when I am there. I gather > > Gunton Park is > > not > > >> open to visitors, but would not expect to find much historical > > > information > > >> there anyway. > > >> > > >> Richard Harbord, Somerset > > >> > > >> ------------------------------- > > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > >> NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the > > >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > > NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the > > quotes in the subject and > > > the body of the message > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > > the quotes in the subject > > and the body of the message > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > > the quotes in the subject and > > the body of the message > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message