With weekly re-runs of The Time Team and exciting offerings from Tudor historian David Starkey and newcomer Tristram Hunt, the history business has never looked better.

This is reflected in the public's response to history news.

Last month, the 1901 census threatened to reveal the secrets of the Victorians. But its much-vaunted web site proved unequal to the task of delivering data to the millions of enthusiasts trying to access it.

British Data Archive is working on the 1901 census and already has the 1891 census for London out on CD and DVD format allowing access to 200,000 pages which can be browsed using area and street indexes.

The company has produced a number of sets consisting of three DVDs or 38 CDs.

Using complete image DVDs or CDs to access records means the economic and social status of the street can be observed.

The 1891 London census fiche set is £5,000 from the PRO but the same images on CD-ROM or DVD from Wiltshire-based genealogy specialists S&N are on special offer at £49.95 . Contact S&N on 01722 716121 or its website.

www.pro. gov.uk/census
www.genealogy.demon.co.uk