FreeBMD2: Why FreeBMD is changing and what to expect

The new FreeBMD website (‘FreeBMD2’) is designed to provide a seamless experience across all devices, ensuring that it looks great and functions smoothly on smaller screens. Additionally, we are committed to making FreeBMD2 more accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. We’ve updated colors, language, and functionality to align with WCAG AA accessibility standards, making the site easier to use for all.

We've been working closely with user experience volunteers to design and test a new interface that improves upon the existing site while maintaining all the features users love. Our goal is to match—and ultimately surpass—the capabilities of the original FreeBMD website (FreeBMD1), ensuring an intuitive and efficient research experience.

What’s New?

The new FreeBMD website will bring a host of improvements, including

  • Better mobile and tablet compatibility – Ensuring an optimal experience for users on all devices.
  • Improved navigation and usability – Making powerful tools easier to find and reducing the number of clicks needed to get results.
  • A more intuitive search experience – Helping users identify relevant records more efficiently, even when data might not be recorded exactly as expected.
  • A cohesive look and feel – Aligning FreeBMD with our sister sites, FreeCEN and FreeREG, for a unified family history research experience.
  • Faster updates to help and documentation – Using a simple HTML interface to keep users informed with the latest guidance and resources.
  • A solid foundation for future enhancements – Leveraging the same underlying code as FreeCEN and FreeREG, allowing improvements to be shared across all Free UK Genealogy websites.

Transitioning to the New FreeBMD

We understand that change can be daunting, and we want to reassure our users that the current FreeBMD website will remain accessible for some time while we continue refining and enhancing the new version. We are committed to ensuring that FreeBMD2 meets — and exceeds — the capabilities of FreeBMD1 before fully transitioning.

Looking Ahead

At launch, FreeBMD2 will include new tools designed to enhance the research process, with more exciting features planned for future updates. We are also working to improve search functionality, making it easier to navigate historical place names and uncover the records you seek.