What is Ancestry's policy going to be on the release of the 1911 census?

Is it going to be made available online together with the other censuses?

this will be a commercial decision

I am certain they will if they can get their hands on images

hugh W

see
http://www.ffhs.org.uk/news/news070118.php

We would remind you however that the 1911 census does not have a name index, so it is only possible to supply information based on an address search. Researchers using this service will currently be charged a non-refundable research fee of £45 that will cover the costs of each search.

Most of us will therefore prefer to wait until 2009. That is when the TNA Press Release (which can be read in full at
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/17jan2007.pdf) restates that it is hoping to start to provide online access to the 1911 Census, through an approved partner, with only the personally sensitive data remaining closed until 2012.

The 1911 census records consist of individual householder's schedules, not enumerators books as in previous censuses. With the increase in population as well to over 35 million, the 1911 census is more than 12 times the size of the 1901, and there are also 38,000 volumes of summary books which TNA have agreed will be included. It would therefore be unrealistic to expect TNA to start to progressively deliver online access to the 1911 census before 2009. Even for counties with the least number of households, this will still be a major task if it is to be handled properly and transcribed accurately, which is the FFHS's main concern in its liaison with TNA regarding the 1911 census.

just google for more news

The 1911 census was available online at the National Archive from midnight last night - I was expecting to be able to access it here, but can't find it yet. Does anyone know when it WILL be available through Ancestry?

Like you I too have been searching with no luck but I have been on the 1911 census co uk website and the price they charge to view is extortionate

I know what you mean about the price: I complained about this sort of pricing once before and was told that they had to cover the very high costs of paying people to do all the scanning and transcription, and that it was cheaper than making a trip to the central archive to view the originals. Which is true. But as I'm paying sub to ancestry to access for this kind of thing I think I'll wait until ancestry can provide access to it.

Lets hope Ancesttry will make a statement fairly soon on the availablity of the 1911 census

The company called Bright Solid(formerly Scotland online) own the rights to the 1911- they have, and still are, investing huge sums into transcribing it.

The amount they charge is far less than the 1901 census charged a few years ago(£5 to view each household).

They will make sure they get a good return on their money before selling any of it to a subscription website,they are of course linked to Find My Past,so I imagine that will get first call on it if anyone does.

Carol

I would have thought with the subscription prices for Ancestry that we should have some advantage over free sites!
Bobbie.

I was quite miffed when I used the site this morning, I got 60 credits, but ended up wasting them in the search for one person, still never found them. Then I found out some records, probably the ones I'm looking for aren't fully transcribed yet!
If you don't get the right record its tough they still carge you 10 credits. How are you supposed to know you have the right person if it gives only the number of matches?
I'm going to wait till they're on here I think.

I agree, it was all over the news this morning that the 1911 census was available, but the price being charged is extortionate. Any update as to the availability on ancestry would be gratefully received by many.