Printed Census volumes

  • The Library has a large collection of Census statistical volumes from 1801 to present located on Level 4 at the shelfmark GPS CEN.
  • The collection of printed early Census volumes is incomplete
  • Census taken every 10 years except during 2nd World War but trial 5 yearly Census taken in 1966
  • 2001 Census includes data in DVD and CD-ROM format
Arrangement of printed volumes
  • Census volumes are shelved by date of Census - Census year forms part of shelfmark e.g. GPS CEN 1961
  • Arranged within Census year by topic or area covered volumes with code for topic or area covered
    e.g. for 1991 Census volumes arranged in this order on shelves:-
    • Information papers, monitors etc - GPS CEN 1991
    • Volumes covering Great Britain - GPS CEN 1991 A
    • Volumes covering England and Wales - GPS CEN 1991 B
    • Volumes covering Scotland - GPS CEN 1991 C

    Within these categories England and Wales volumes arranged as follows:
    • General tables - GPS CEN 1991 B1
    • County reports - GPS CEN 1991 B2 (arranged A-Z by county)
    • Topic volumes (occupation, industry etc) - GPS CEN 1991 B3
    • Topic volumes (population, households, dwellings etc) - GPS CEN 1991 B4

    Scottish volumes arranged as follows:
    • General Tables - GPS CEN 1991 C1
    • Regional reports - GPS CEN 1991 C2
    • Topic volumes (occupation, industry etc) - GPS CEN 1991 C3
    • Topic volumes (population, households, dwellings etc) - GPS CEN 1991 C4
Information contained in printed volumes of 1991 Census (earlier Census volumes may vary)
  • 100% and 10% data available
  • You will need to check contents pages to find out following information:
    • Which tables are published there
    • Level of detail of tables
    • Areas covered - national level, local authority district level, etc
  • County volumes have data at county and district level
  • There is a set of Parliamentary constituency volumes
  • The only printed tables covering data at local authority ward level are published in the Parish and Ward monitors at GPS CEN 1991
  • Each county volume contains small map showing county and district boundaries
Microfiche volumes

From 1801 to 1911 issued as House of Commons Papers and available in the Parliamentary Papers microfiche collection on Level 4.