Tiny St Nicholas Church, Sulham, was packed for the 2019 Remembrance Service where special tribute was paid to Winifred Helen Burtenshaw. The congregation heard the Revd Heather Parbury describe Winifred’s life before the outbreak of war and her subsequent service and tragic death as a VAD.
Read More
Give someone the gift of Membership
Share the joys of researching family history with a friend or family member. Purchase a Gift Membership in our shop and receive:
- A Gift card for you to personalise
- An Activation form for the recipient to send us
- A Welcome note, setting out the benefits of being a society member
- Membership will be valid from now until 30th June 2021
At The Centre
October – December 2019
INSTITUTIONS
organisations founded for religious, educational, professional and social purposes
Upcoming Events

Branch Meeting
Members’ Christmas Social
The Brewery Tap
The Brewery Tap
The Brewery Tap, Ock Street, Abingdon, OX14 5BZ

Advice session
Drop In Advice Session
Bracknell Central Library
Bracknell Central Library
Town Square, Bracknell RG12 1BH

Branch Meeting
Branch Christmas Party
Newbury Branch
Newbury Branch
St Mary's Church Hall, Church Lane, Shaw, Berkshire, RG14 2DR

Branch Meeting
Short talks and quiz
Reading Branch
Reading Branch
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, 280 The Meadway, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4PE, Berkshire

Advice session
Free family history advice
Thatcham Library
Thatcham Library
Thatcham Library, Bath Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3AG

Advice session
Free Family History Advice
Newbury Library
Newbury Library
Newbury Library, The Wharf, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5AU

Advice session
Drop in session – census
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Discussion
Natter Group
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Advice session
FREE Family History Help Desk
Abingdon Library
Abingdon Library
Abingdon Library, The Charter, Abingdon, UK

Branch Meeting
The Victorian Plentys
Newbury Branch
Newbury Branch
St Mary's Church Hall, Church Lane, Shaw, Berkshire, RG14 2DR

Talk
“A Potpourri of History” Talk Series
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Talk
London Transport by Design
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Workshop
The Old Poor Law
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Advice session
Drop In Advice Session
Bracknell Central Library
Bracknell Central Library
Town Square, Bracknell RG12 1BH

Branch Meeting
Wills before 1858
Woodley Branch
Woodley Branch
The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley, Berkshire, RG5 4JZ

Workshop
Tracing your Jewish ancestry
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Branch Meeting
Was Your Ancestor a Gypsy?
Abingdon Branch
Abingdon Branch
Long Furlong Community Centre, Boulter Drive, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 1XP, UK

Talk
The Friends Ambulance Unit in WW1 & 2
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Discussion Group
DNA Interest Group
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Advice session
Drop In Advice Session
Wokingham Library
Wokingham Library
Denmark Street, Wokingham, RG40 2BB

Advice session
Drop in session – the 1939 register
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Discussion
Natter Group
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Talk
Caversham Court and its History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ

Advice session
Drop In Advice Session
Bracknell Central Library
Bracknell Central Library
Town Square, Bracknell RG12 1BH

Branch Meeting
Heraldry: more than just logos for nobles
Newbury Branch
Newbury Branch
St Mary's Church Hall, Church Lane, Shaw, Berkshire, RG14 2DR

Need help with your research?
Use our NEW Research Wizard to step through the resources we have available
Our volunteers have transcribed millions of records and written reams of articles about Berkshire. Follow this guide to discover if we have the tool to break down your brick wall
News
Nearly 4,000 new pages from the Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser added to the British Newspaper Archive
In the last week, nearly 4,000 new pages from the Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser added to the British Newspaper Archive.
Read MoreLook back over hundreds of years of Advertiser and Express history in new online archive
A new digital archive will allow people to delve into the pages of Maidenhead area local history, some going back more than 200 years.
Read More150,000 Berkshire Records Added to FMP
Berkshire Family History Society has now completed another two massive uploads of over 150,000 baptism and marriage data to FMP. Keep an eye on Findmypast’s Friday announcements.
Read More


What people say about us
Laurence - Visitor to the Centre
I would like to thank John for taking time to help me today. Also to Ivan for his support. I was made to feel very welcome and I would like to come back to do my research. A big thanks to all.
Shop customer
Member
"In the June [Berkshire Family History] Historian - there was an article about St Joseph's Convent School, Reading. I attended there from 1947-50, so I have relived many happy memories - thank you." Glenys
Member, York
"'The Common Ground (The story of Greenham Common)' brought back childhood memories of previous years when we visited my grandparents. Thank you for putting me in touch with the author."
Overseas Visitor to The Centre
"You are amazing. You have provided far more information than we could have ever hoped for. We are very grateful for your assistance."