ScotlandOnline wins 1911 census deal

The National Archives has teamed up with hosted web service provider ScotlandOnline to put the 1911 census for England and Wales online.

The 1911 census covered 35 million people, and researchers will be able to search for names and addresses, and download high-resolution images.

The National Archives has worked with the private sector before, to digitise records such as lists of emigrants and the 1841-1891 censuses, as well as its digitisation-on-demand programme.

Like the paper version of the 1901 census, which is no longer available to visitors to the National Archives, the paper version of the 1911 census may also be moved to free up shelf space when digitisation is near completion.

A National Archives spokesman said: “As the 1911 census occupies 2km of shelving, it is probable that a decision will be made in due course as this is a large amount of space. Digitisation also allows the document to be stored and conserved highly effectively.”

The National Archives’ least requested documents are kept in a former salt mine in Cheshire.

The 1911 census will be available from 2009, starting with the major conurbations, although personally sensitive data will be withheld until January 2012.

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