2026 Online Berkshire Heritage Fair
Saturday 18 Jul 2026
Organisers - Berkshire Family History Society & Berkshire Local History Association
- Online, so location is no barrier to being able to attend
- Session timings are pitched to allow as many people as possible from across the world to join. Previously, participants joined us from the US, Canada and Australia - can we add even more countries this time?
- The event uses Zoom breakout rooms, and you will be able to choose between themed rooms and also those unique to participating heritage organisations.
- It's free and you can attend one or both sessions
Benefits of attending?
If you have an interest in historic Berkshire or some particular location within it, or one of its surrounding counties, you will almost certainly find this beneficial. You will be able to:
- Connect with local experts about locations, businesses, industries or families of interest.
- Ask questions and seek their advice.
- Find out about the archives which many of these organisations hold (majority not online) and how you can access them.
- Benefit from general and specific information, sources and images - many of which you may have previously been unaware.
- Share information on your own family or heritage research with the participating organisations.
- Gain advice and guidance on Berkshire-specific resources and sources.
- Get help with your own family, local, military, transport or business history research - from getting started to breaking down brick walls.
- Pop into our specialist rooms on topics such as local businesses and industries (including Huntley & Palmers, Sutton Seeds, and the Katesgrove Iron Works), Transport, Military, Wills & Probate and Parish Registers.
- Build lasting connections with new contacts beyond this event
- Find out how you can join and get involved with these organisations.
Feedback from previous fair visitors
Participating organisations
Themed breakout rooms
In addition to the participating organisations and their dedicated rooms, we will be featuring some rooms that deal with particular themes within family history
Berkshire
Business, Industry
& Transport
Whether your ancestor was involved with one of Berkshire’s pre-eminent brands or acted as a sole trader, this room’s for you
Beginners & Breaking Down Brick Walls
Just getting started or reached an obstacle? Come here for help
Military
No family is untouched by military service, especially with the 20th C. mass conscription of ordinary people into extraordinary conflicts
Parish Registers
The staple diet of all family historians, especially before Civil Registration started in 1837 in the UK
Wills, Probate & Maps
A veritable treasure chest of local, social and family history information