General notes regarding the information available for genealogical studies within the U.K.

Census.
Census data is kept out of the public domain for 100 years following the date of the census. The reason for this is that certain medical information is held about the individual and revealing this during their lifetime would breach their human rights. The information during victorian times would consist of: Deaf and Dumb, Blind and Lunatic, Imbecile or Idiot.
It follows from this that the earliest data available is from the 1901 census. Apparantly, there are moves afoot to provide the 1911 census early, minus the medical data. it is hoped that this will be provided by 2009.
Registry Offices.
It was possible from 1837 to have a civil marriage in a Register Office. On 30 June 1837, two Acts of Parliament became law: the Marriage Act 1836, and the Registration Act 1836 (6&7 Will. 4 c86). By these two Acts, covering Births, Deaths and Marriages, the Guardians were directed to provide a register office and to appoint Registrars of Births and Deaths. The Marriage Act provided the opportunity, for the very first time, of marrying with a civil ceremony. The Clerk to the Guardians was given a right of appointment to the office of Superintendent Registrar, and the power of appointment of Registrars of Marriages. Arrangements for carrying out periodic censuses also devolved upon the Superintendent Registrar and the Registrars. That register of marriages was kept by the Superintendent Registrar also. The registers held by at the Register Office cannot be seen, but Index books can be viewed at an hourly cost.
The index information is being made available on-line but only at the rate that it can be transcribed. Much of the information has been updated but there is much more to do .
Parish Records.
Prior to the time that the Registry Offices were established, all information regarding births, marriages and deaths had been collated by the church, namely the Church of England. The only exceptions being Quakers and Jews who were allowed to conduct their own ceremonies and keep their own records. Following the act, an attempt was made to consolidate the records which led to a certain number of the records being lost, only the 'Bishop's Transcripts', which were copies of parish records made for the regional bishop, remaining.