Websites To Watch

After the disruption of 2020 and 2021 it’s good to see sunlight on the horizon, writes Jonathan Scott

This time last year we were lamenting the impact of Covid-19. Today, although we are still living in the shadow of the pandemic, there’s so much to look forward to. There’s the little matter of the 1921 census of England and Wales, which is being released by Findmypast and The National Archives in Kew in January; the release of the 1921 census of Scotland via ScotlandsPeople; and the ‘Beyond 2022’ project that will be launching a ‘Virtual Record Treasury’ on the centenary of the destruction of the Public Record O ce of Ireland.

There is also a great deal of work going on at county and specialist archives across the UK. Many are updating their online catalogues to new content-management systems, which should improve searching and widen opportunities for digitisation, access and engagement.