About the Society

Finding your ancestors starts here

Founded in 1975, Berkshire Family History Society works to meet the needs of those researching their ancestry across the UK and overseas – as well as those looking for former relatives in historic Berkshire

A registered charity, Berkshire Family History Society exists to help you in your research … WHEREVER your ancestors came from... and you do not need to be a member to benefit 

The society offers:

  • a Research Zone in central Reading that is FREE to use and open to all

  • FREE ACCESS at The Centre for Heritage and Family History to online resources like Findmypast, The 1939 Register, The Genealogist, the British Newspaper Archive and Ancestry (that’s the worldwide edition)

  • regular help and advice sessions in locations across the ‘old’ Royal County of Berkshire — these are FREE too

  • meetings in Abingdon, Bracknell, Newbury, Reading, Windsor and Woodley — open to everyone

  • an online Forum for members, offering informed answers to research queries and advice from other experienced researchers

  • Member-Only content with data and other information not readily accessible elsewhere

  • key resources — high quality indexes and transcriptions of Berkshire’s historic records on CD — including parish registers, probate documents, monumental inscriptions, maps, First World War history and more

  • significant numbers (but not all) of the society’s transcriptions can be viewed on Findmypast

  • an online shop

  • a quarterly magazine, the Berkshire Family Historian, for members

  • a chance to join in project work, recording, transcribing and helping to preserve records of ‘old’ Berkshire for the benefit of future family historians

  • friendly links to the research experience, advice and support of members worldwide

  • rewarding opportunities in all kinds of roles to volunteer and so help others with their family history

Berkshire Family History Society is the one society that covers all of the ‘old’ Royal County of Berkshire

The society’s premises — The Centre for Heritage and Family History — are on the second floor of Reading Central Library. 

Explore this website to discover how your family history researchcan benefit from services and products of Berkshire Family History Society

The society has around 1,500 members worldwide. It is a registered charity (Number 283010) and subject to the provisions of charity law in England and Wales.

 Objects of the society

to advance education of the public in research into family history and genealogy, primarily but not exclusively within the boundaries of the pre-1974 Royal County of Berkshire; and

to work to promote the preservation, transcription, indexing and ready public accessibility of related records and information

An Executive Committee and a 170-strong volunteer team run day-to-day operations and activities. All are unpaid.

The personal rewards that can come from volunteering are well-documented. Extra hands are always welcome. You too could play a major part in the society’s work — wherever in the world you may live.

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Berkshire Family History Society works to meet the needs of those researching their ancestry across the UK and overseas – as well as those looking for former relatives in historic Berkshire.  You do not need to be a member to benefit.

The society offers:

  • Research Zone in central Reading that is free to use and open to all

  • Free access at The Centre for Heritage and Family History to online resources like FindMyPast, the 1939 Register, The Genealogist, the British Newspaper Archive and Ancestry (the worldwide edition)

  • Regular free help and advice sessions

  • Meetings in Abingdon, Bracknell, Newbury, Reading, Windsor and Woodley — open to everyone

  • Online discussion list for members – informed answers to research queries and advice from experienced researchers

  • Members’ Area with data and other information not readily accessible elsewhere

  • Indexes and transcriptions of Berkshire’s historic records on CD — parish registers, probate documents, monumental inscriptions, maps, First World War history and more

  • Quarterly magazine, the Berkshire Family Historian, for members

  • a chance to join in project work, recording, transcribing and helping to preserve records

  • Links to the research experience, advice and support of members worldwide

  • Opportunities to volunteer and so help others with their family history