A little moan.....

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:28 pm

Hi All,

Just back from Edinburgh - two days there, two days back by car - and I'd really like to know why the uni always starts its term when Edinburgh has a public holiday?

It means that on my one day in Edinburgh there is little chance for research and it was even more frustrating this time when I went to Piershill Cemetery armed with the section and lair number only to find no map/numbering and the office closed of course.
It's soooo frustrating.
I now have to wait until next year

Best wishes,
Meg

Ann In the UK · Post by **Ann In the UK** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:17 pm

To add to your moan, I'd like a little rant!

What I'd like to know is why these places are always in the middle of busy cities and suchlike.

The National Archives - both English and Scottish - are a nightmare to get to unless you live in London or Edinburgh. And the same goes for many of the other libraries and archives I've visited. I'm sure it puts the majority of potential customers off. And how are potential overseas customers supposed to get there frequently? Yes, I know you can pay a reasearcher in most places, but that's hardly ideal for those of us who enjoy the search ourselves, is it?

Roll on the day when all of their collection's are made available online, that's what I say - I'd much rather pay a modest subscription to search and discount or download them online than traipse back and forth to various places on the off chance they have what I want.

Ahh, better.
Ann

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:47 pm

Ann In the UK wrote:What I'd like to know is why these places are always in the middle of busy cities and suchlike.

Ann

The answer to that is simple, such things are in the Capital Cities so that the population can access them with ease.

Sticking them in Auchtermuchtie or Portree wouldn't make much sense now would it?

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:55 pm

The National Archives - both English and Scottish - are a nightmare to get to unless you live in London or Edinburgh.

Not if you take a bus or train - the central bus station, and Waverley Station are both only a two minute walk from GROS & NAS.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Ina** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:19 pm

I agree Lesley,

I think NRH is easy to get to. When I go home on visits to Scotland it's an easy trip from Glasgow to Edinburgh by train. NRH is directly across the street from Waverly station.

Same with Park Circus or the Mitchell in Glasgow.....just a short taxi drive from Glasgow Central train station.

As Wilma said if they were situated in small communities they would be much harder to get to.

Ina

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:37 pm

Charing Cross station is just across the road from the Mitchell too. So if you arrive in Glasgow at Queen Street train station (or Buchannan Street bus station) it is easy enough just to jump on the train and be at the Mitchell in no time!

I never take the car to Edinburgh or Glasgow; in both places I find parking a time consuming and very expensive nightmare. Edinburgh is OK for driving around as I know my way about but I'm useless in Glasgow in the car - I end up going round and round in circles and swearing a lot due to not being familiar enough with the various one-way systems!!

Best wishes
Lesley

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:49 pm

Well my little moan has been hijacked!!
I agree with you all about ease of access in Edinburgh - that's why it's so frustrating when it's closed!

Meg

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:27 pm

Hi Meg

I agree with you all about ease of access in Edinburgh - that's why it's so frustrating when it's closed!

Can't you persuade your son to return to Edinburgh a few days earlier??

I agree it must be very frustrating to be there yet still be unable to carry out any research.....

Best wishes
Lesley

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:29 pm

Hi Wilma

Sticking them in Auchtermuchtie or Portree wouldn't make much sense now would it?

I'd be quite happy for a major Scottish archive to be based in Auchtermuchty as it is not that far from me!!

< only winding you up....!>

Best wishes
Lesley

Ann In the UK · Post by **Ann In the UK** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:50 pm

Sorry Meg, I only intended to rant a little, not take over!

But I have to stand by my original view. It took me just over an hour to get to London on the train the day I went to Kew, then nearly 4 hours to get across it on the extremely busy and unpredictable underground. Complete nightmare. Same coming back. I won't be doing that again any time soon.

It was the same in Edinburgh. It was hot, and we couldn't get a hotel in the city because of Homecoming, so had to stay on the outskirts. Then when we drove in early the next morning (to make the most of our limited time there) everywere was backed up due to roadworks, and the morning trafic heading into town. By the the time I was eventually dropped off outside, I the was so irriated I left my folder in the car! Ugh!

I have to say the Mitchell was the best of the bunch. Easy access, I even managed to get a parking space outside. And the staff were so helpful. The best I think I've had anywhere.

In an ideal world, these archives would be located like out of town malls, with easy access for everyone, not just the locals or frequent visitors who know all the shortcuts.