As they did for the first time in 1841, enumerators went to households and asked householders to complete a schedule, then entered information from the schedules, as well as other information (most importantly about addresses) into a 'Census Enumerator's Book'. Information was collected about:
| household address | Indicated by the number of the schedule, together with name of street, place or road and name or number of house. |
|---|---|
| household members' name | First and Surname. Initial of second Christian name might now be inserted |
| marital status | married, widower or unmarried, against the names of all persons except young children, in a column headed 'Condition' |
| relationship to household head | 'State whether wife, son, daughter or other relative, visitor or servant' |
| Age | column said 'Age [last birthday]' - age in years to be given, with age of children under one year to be given in months |
| Sex | F/M (double age column as per earlier censuses retained in enumerators' books) |
| 'rank, profession or occupation' | Acceptable abbreviations provided. Size of farm for farmers also stated, and for employers, number of employees. |
| county then town/parish of birth | country of birth to be stated if born in Scotland, Ireland, British Colonies, East Indies, Foreign Parts - British subject to be added where appropriate |
| descriptions of medical disabilities | state if members of household were 'deaf and dumb, or blind' |