Anyone else feeling ripped off by 1921 census?

Yes! I nearly started a thread along the same lines as you Sarnia when I first went on the site and subscribed. Unlike Ancestry, which in retrospect, I think is so much better and easy to navigate, I find FMP a massive disappointment, I completely agree with you.

It’s very expensive, that’s why only a few libraries are providing free access.

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/regional-hubs-to-offer-free-online-access-to-1921-census/

Our library in Salisbury said it wouldn't be available in the library for 3 years because Find my past had a monopoly. So why do some libraries have it?

Yammy, you could try doing some detective work on FreeBMD before paying for certificates, matching up marriage partners, dates, districts, page/ref numbers etc. You would have to pay for any certificates you go on to order, but I’ve found I’ve been able to confirm details through this site, and made some surprise discoveries too.

I’ve only ever ordered from GRO - I didn’t know there was any other way!

SueDonim

I’m not aware of anywhere that has BMD certs for free. The registers are free to look at but the actual certs need to be paid for.

But don't order them through Ancestry etc.

Find out all the information you can and order them directly from the GRO site:
www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

Yammy.

Ancestry are uploading more and more Church of England records where you can see a copy of the entry into the marriage register and baptismal and burial records. Coverage for London is good for the period you mention. Bristol is good too.

For London, one data collection contains marriage records and marriage banns dating from 1754-1932 from more than 10,000 Church of England parish registers (including Bishop’s Transcripts) from parishes in the greater London area that have been deposited at London Metropolitan Archives and those formerly held by Guildhall Library Manuscripts section.

Other cities and counties you may only be able to see an extract but that may give you the information you need as to date and place, names including fathers' names for a marriage, for example. You do need to be a member of Ancestry, of course.

I’m not aware of anywhere that has BMD certs for free. The registers are free to look at but the actual certs need to be paid for.

I found my grandparents by using my mother's sisters name which was very unusual.
Does anyone know of an internet site where you can view B.M.D? without paying. I am helping to sort the chap opposite family out and really need marriage certificates for1860/1870.
I don't feel like buying as there are a few options.

Yes. I haven't even looked after the first glance.

I knew where my parents were in 1921 and DH's parents too so I'm not bothering further.

Sometimes with family history research, when ordering certificates, you have to take a bit of punt that you have the right person.
OakDryad
Yes, I did do that a few years ago with a missing family member and solved a longstanding family mystery, which was very satisfying although quite upsetting too.

I don't know where you live Sarnia but in Manchester the central library are giving free access to the 1921 census on their terminals.

Sarnia. WW1 attestation documents will give you name, address, age, wife's name, where and when they got married and the names and dates of birth of children.

My ancestors are almost all Scottish. When I pay for a record I refer to it as Scotland’s People roulette. Thankfully it only costs @£1.50 a time.
I always upload a photo of any certificates to my gallery so that anyone else researching the same family doesn’t have to pay. Try checking other people’s galleries as you might find certificates there.

OakDryad

Sometimes with family history research, when ordering certificates, you have to take a bit of punt that you have the right person. Similarly with the 1921 census although you should have more to go on. The thumb nail in the right hand corner gives the first names of some of the other people listed at the property. Add that to other information you already have from previous censuses, BMD certificates and associated records, WW1 records, the 1939 Register, electoral rolls and so on, there’s a lot to go. WW1 attestation documents are very helpful in pin-pointing where families were in 1914 onwards.

I have a few ancestors with very little detail. I began to wonder if some ever existed at all! I haven't had a look at WW1 attestation documents. I will search those. Thanks for that.

Sometimes with family history research, when ordering certificates, you have to take a bit of punt that you have the right person. Similarly with the 1921 census although you should have more to go on. The thumb nail in the right hand corner gives the first names of some of the other people listed at the property. Add that to other information you already have from previous censuses, BMD certificates and associated records, WW1 records, the 1939 Register, electoral rolls and so on, there’s a lot to go. WW1 attestation documents are very helpful in pin-pointing where families were in 1914 onwards.