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The Centre for Heritage
and Family History -
About our
Branches -
Abingdon
Branch -
Bracknell
Branch -
Newbury
Branch -
Reading
Branch -
Windsor
Branch -
Woodley
Branch
25 Oct 2020: The Centre is currently closed due to Covid-19 but our website, online shop and Zoom events programme are still operating
The Centre
A great space for society members and the public to use and to enjoy. It’s a lively meeting place and friendly focal point for everyone interested in heritage and history — including family, local and social history
Research
The Centre provides the area’s best family history research facility. Today’s researchers need to know how best to search for, organise and present information using digital sources and vital offline resources. It’s FREE to visit and informed advice and support are always at hand from society volunteers
Education
The Centre hosts a lively activities and events programme, aimed at widening researchers’ knowledge and deepening their understanding. Talks, walks, courses and workshops deliver updated perspectives and help place research findings into better historical context
Research Tools
FREE use of key online research tools improves prospects of finding that elusive ancestor. Each service offers different record sets, geographical coverage, search capabilities and levels of detail. That is why The Centre offers access to Findmypast, The Genealogist, the British Newspaper Archive and Ancestry’s national and international records
For a small charge, The Centre offers A3 and A4 print services for research findings.
Events Programme
Berkshire Family History Society
The Centre for Heritage and Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library
Abbey Square
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 3BQ
Find us easily with what3words:
0118 950 9553
Normally open:
- Monday: 11.00 – 16.00
- Tuesday: 10.30 – 16.00 & 18.45 – 21.00
- Saturday: 10.30 – 14.30
- Last Thursday each month: 10.30 – 16.00
There are SIX branches across historic Berkshire ...
… providing friendly help and advice, key resources and information for your family history research — wherever in the world your ancestors came from
Meetings
Meetings usually take place monthly (except July and August)
Come to a meeting, join in and chat with other family historians. You will meet researchers of all ages – and at all stages — from newcomers to family history to the more experienced. Everyone is welcome — you do not have to be a society member to attend.
Each meeting features a topic likely to be of relevance and interest to all researchers. Speakers are experts in their respective fields.
Computer related matters feature prominently at the Woodley Branch meetings — but other branches also hold a few similar meetings each year. That is because today's researchers need to know how best to search for, organise and present information using online means and available programs, as well as the many vital offline resources. The basic principles of effective family history research have not changed, but intelligent use of a PC or mobile device, and the internet have made a dramatic difference to research techniques.
Audience
This society and its Branches are not just about Berkshire.
The people you'll meet have research interests that range across the UK, even worldwide. Draw on their experience and advice, you'll be surprised at how much you can learn.
Drop-in advice sessions
Society volunteers run regular drop-in advice sessions at many of Berkshire’s libraries, including those at Abingdon, Bracknell, Cippenham, Mortimer, Newbury, Thatcham, Wantage and Wokingham
Details are given in the Events Programme
Collect your names. dates and questions, bring them with you, and get some friendly help and advice with your research and in breaking down those brickwalls - wherever your ancestors came from.
The society also hosts occasional open evenings at Berkshire Record Office in Reading, where you will find almost all of the surviving original records of the 'old' Royal County of Berkshire, including those for the parishes of the Vale of the White Horse, and Abingdon/North Berkshire.
Literature
- Society branches often have a monthly newsletter.
- Society members can borrow from a range of family and local history books from branches with their own libraries.
- Some branches offer society publications for sale.
Events and Open Days
Meet society volunteers at outreach events held throughout the year in Berkshire and central southern England. See calendar for details.
The society usually supports regional shows like The Family History Show and family history fairs, open days and workshops staged by local organisations and nearby county family history societies.
An extensive Berkshire Search facility (including the publications mentioned above) is usually available on a PC at most outreach events too.
At these events, you can usually buy CDs and other items from the growing range of society publications, including:
- indexes and transcriptions of original Berkshire Parish Registers
- an index to Berkshire's probate records
- full details, with photographs, of monumental inscriptions.
- historic maps
- directories
- electoral rolls
- calendarised Berkshire overseers’ papers
- Berkshire coroners’ reports
- Berkshire and the First World War
- Berkshire War Memorials.
If you have ancestors in the historic 'old' county of Berkshire, transcriptions in the three Berkshire Baptisms, Berkshire Marriages, and Berkshire Burials CDs (containing some 2 million names in total) are essential finding aids. These CDs include parish records in North Berkshire and the Vale of the White Horse too.
When
Sir Edward Leader Williams 19th Century Engineer
Time
Doors open at 7.15pm
Parking
FREE parking adjacent to the Centre
Welcome
Non-members are welcome at Branch meetings and events. A voluntary donation of £3 is appreciated, if affordable.
Agenda
- Most meetings feature a talk by a speaker who is a recognised authority on their subject
- Q&A.
- News items
- Refreshments
- General discussion
History
From Saxon times until 1974, the Royal County of Berkshire extended to the western edge of the city of Oxford, separated only by the River Thames. That river marked Berkshire's northern border and it is entirely fitting that Abingdon — Berkshire's principal settlement for so many years — continues to host the most northerly of Berkshire Family History Society's six local branches.
- Advice Sessions
- Local Projects
Abingdon Branch members provide advice occasionally at local events in and around Abingdon and Wantage. You can bring your family history questions to these sessions and get some fresh ideas and answers on how you can move your research forward.
From time to time, similar events are held at other locations in the area.
Check the events calendar to find out where and when you can next seek advice on your family history research questions
Projects are a vital part of the work of the society. They are important in helping to preserve historic records and making information from those records accessible to a wider public. Without such project work, there would be few if any accurate indexes or transcripts accessible to for you as a family historian.
Examples of Abingdon Branch projects include the recording of memorial inscriptions in the churchyard of St Peter's Church, Drayton, near Abingdon, with the transcriptions published on a CD, available from the society.
Contact
Any questions about Branch activities?
Contact
Vanessa Chappell
Branch chairman
What
Time
Doors open at 7.15pm
Parking
FREE car parking next to the centre
Welcome
Non-members are welcome at Branch meetings and events. A voluntary donation of £3 is appreciated, if affordable.
Agenda
- Most meetings feature a talk by a speaker who is a recognised authority on their subject
- Q&A.
- News items
- Short contributions from local members
- Advice & Outreach Events
- Community Talks
- Local Projects
Branch members provide advice on the second Tuesday of every month at Bracknell Central Library in Town Square and also on the last Tuesday of each month at Wokingham Library in Denmark Street (check the calendar for these event dates). Bring your questions and get help, fresh ideas, suggestions and answers on how you can move your research forward.
Some members give talks to community groups, in return for a donation to help the work of the society.
To request a speaker, please use the Contact Box
Projects are a vital part of the work of the society, helping to preserve historic records and making information more accessible to a wider public. Without project work, there would be few if any accurate indexes or transcripts accessible to you.
Branch projects include recording memorial inscriptions in the churchyards of Ascot All Saints and Priory Road Burial Ground*, Crowthorne St John*, Wokingham All Saints*, Wokingham St Paul, Wokingham St Sebastian* and in Wokingham Free Church Burial Ground*.
Branch Meeting Summaries
Catch up with what you missed or remind yourself what was said, with summaries of the Bracknell & Wokingham Branch meetings
Contact
Any questions about Branch activities?
Contact
Sandra Barkwith
Branch chairperson
What
Time
Doors open at 7:10pm
Parking
FREE car parking next to the hall
Welcome
Non-members are welcome at Branch meetings and events. A voluntary donation of £3 is appreciated, if affordable.
Agenda
- Most meetings feature a talk by a speaker who is a recognised authority on their subject
- Q&A.
- News items
- Branch lending library
- Advice & Outreach Events
- Trips
Branch members provide regular help and advice sessions in locations across West Berkshire, including Newbury Library. See calendar for details.
The branch organises occasional trips to destinations such as The National Archives and county record offices.
Branch Meeting Summaries
Catch up with what you missed or remind yourself what was said, with summaries of the Newbury branch meetings
Contact
Any questions about Branch activities?
Contact
Eileen Schofield
Branch chairperson
What
Time
Doors open at 7.15pm
Parking
Ample FREE car parking on site
Welcome
Non-members are welcome at Branch meetings and events. A voluntary donation of £3 is appreciated, if affordable.
Agenda
- Variety of talks aimed at
- all interests and abilities
- newcomers to experienced researchers
- given by experts in their field.
- July - visit to a place of local historical interest or to a museum or archive collection.
- December meeting is usually 'home grown' - members share their own research, often on a linked theme.
- Meetings start with notices and general interest items before our speaker gives their talk.
- Afterwards there is time for questions and general discussion.
- Advice & Help
- Community Talks
- Local Projects
Reading Branch members provide help and advice at The Centre for Heritage and Family History — the Berkshire Family History Society's base in central Reading.
Members give talks to local Reading groups and organisations, or provide help at advice sessions and events in local libraries to encourage and help newcomers and experienced family historians alike in their family and local history research.
To request a speaker, please use the Contact Box
Projects are a vital part of the work of the society, helping to preserve historic records and making information more accessible to a wider public. Without project work, there would be few if any accurate indexes or transcripts accessible to you.
Branch Members help transcribe original documents in Berkshire Record Office, for eventual publication by the society
Some Wallingford Crooks
Reading Branch meeting 24th September 2020, conducted via Zoom Speaker: Margaret Crook Margaret explained that her research into her husband’s family tree started before the internet and the computers had become the tool of choice it is today. From a family bible handed down by her father-in-law dated 1896 it gave her a start into […]
The Colin Spickett Experiment
Reading Branch meeting 25th June 2020, conducted on Zoom Speaker: Mark Bowman This presentation was a display of how much can be achieved for free in a short space of time. Mark showed that starting only with a name (albeit an unusual one) and a rough date of birth, you can, using free, online resources, […]
Jane Austen and the Thames Valley Connection
Reading Branch meeting 28th May 2020, conducted on Zoom Speaker: Joy Pibworth Joy outlined the family background of Jane’s life and the places where those people lived. She painted a picture of her parent’s lives and those of her close relatives. They involved places as far away as America, Russia as well as Oxford, Tonbridge […]
A Caribbean Journey: experiences of researching Barbadian ancestors from the UK
Reading Branch meeting 27th February 2020 Speaker: Guy Grannum Guy gave an interesting talk on how he came to research his Barbadian roots and the types of documents that can aid with Barbadian ancestry. Guys started researching for his parents 25th wedding anniversary, and discovered an international family covering South Africa, Gibraltar and Majorca. Unfortunately, […]
Victorian Divorce
Reading Branch meeting 30th January 2020 Speaker: Simon Burbidge Simon spoke of his research into his ancestors who had been divorced by the time of the 1901 census. Prior to 1858 Divorce was subject to Ecclesiastical Law with basically consummated or unconsummated marriage. It required an Act of Parliament and grounds were usually separation, civil […]
Short talks and quiz
Reading Branch meeting 12th December 2019 Speaker: Members There were two short talks by members, a Berkshire dialect quiz from Vicki and the traditional non-alcoholic mulled wine and mince pie courtesy of Rosemary and Angie. Angie Catt spoke about her great-grandfather John Gibbons (West) born in Bath who enlisted in the 12th Prince of Wales […]
Birth and Death Certificates
Reading Branch meeting 28th November 2019 Speaker: Antony Marr Speaking from a background of an ex Deputy Registrar he gave an interesting insight of what can be found on these certificates. The rules surrounding these certificates are covered by a 150-page instruction book. Original certificates will have original signatures; the GRO (General Register Office) version […]
Policing Reading in WW1
Reading Branch meeting 31st October 2019 Speaker: Tony Keep from Thames Valley Police Museum Tony started his research to commemorate what was thought to be 47 policemen lost in WW1, but actually turned out to be 49. At the time of WW1 eight forces existed covering the area now known as Thames Valley force. In […]
Putting Berkshire on the Map (Gough to Google)
Reading Branch meeting 26th Sept 2019 Speaker: John Leighfield John opened his talk with an anecdote about Einstein and his chauffeur which set the pace and delivery for the evening. He informed the gathering that the earliest maps were around 6000 BC from Turkey, then from 1400 BC Italian wall carving and then 6th century BC […]
Photos and Memorabilia
Reading Branch meeting 27th June 2019 Speaker: Members Four members talked about their ancestors and artefacts. Peter Caton continued a theme connected to Walter Hildyard the circus performer. This time the subject was his grandfather Charles Hildyard Todd of Islington. A check on the censuses found him in 1861 & 1871 with his parents. In […]
The 1939 Register
Reading Branch meeting 30th May 2019 Speaker: Mark Bowman Mark explored the origins of the register and its uses in a highly entertaining and informative talk. On Sunday 3rd September 1939 war was declared, which received Royal Assent on the 5th September. 65000 enumerators were assembled for Registration Day, Friday 29th September to Monday 2nd […]
Tracing your Welsh Ancestors
Reading Branch meeting 25th April 2019 Speaker: Gill Thomas Gill started by outlining the differences one might find when tracing Welsh ancestors. These are language, culture and geography. Parish records are affected by non-conformity, and migration. There are resources online to help. English language has been used since 1733, prior to that you may encounter […]
Old Photographs: their identification and dating
Reading Branch meeting 28th March 2019 Speaker: Tom Doig Tom started by suggesting it is more accurate when dating old photographs to look at the type of image created rather than the costumes worn by the sitters. His reasoning is that fashion does not travel very fast around the country and what may be fashionable […]
The History of Reading Cinemas
Reading Branch meeting 28th February 2019 Speaker: David Cliffe David opened by recounting that he had first given his talk, now updated, to our branch in 2014 after encouragement from us and the History of Reading Society which resulted in the publication of his book “Reading Cinemas: Picture Palace to Penny Plunge”. He recalled drawing […]
Telling Tales
Reading Branch meeting 31st January 2019 Speaker: Mike Swaddling Mike, a retired marketing communications manager living in Sandhurst, after full time work, he was able to follow up an idea inspired by his father’s memoirs to help retired people with their reminiscences. Over 10 years, he visited retirement homes and recorded first-hand stories of lives […]
Contact
Any questions about Branch activities?
Contact
Graham Vockins
Branch chairman
What
Polish Ancestral Tourism – “Wolf Hunting in Womja”
Time
Doors open at 7:15pm
Parking
There is only limited parking at the Church itself but there is a multi-storey car park on the corner of Victoria Street and Alexandra Road, immediately opposite William Street.
Welcome
Non-members are welcome at Branch meetings and events. A voluntary donation of £3 is appreciated, if affordable.
Agenda
- A talk on topics of interest to all researchers whatever experience level, delivered by speakers who are acknowledged experts.
- Q&A
- Refreshments
- Raffle
- Monthly newsletter with details of current and future meetings and other family history events
- Advice & Outreach Events
The Branch operates a number of regular outreach events each month, including drop-in sessions at Cippenham Library. See the calendar for more details.
Contact
Any questions about Branch activities?
Contact
Leigh Dworkin
Branch chairman
What
Time
Doors open at 7.15pm
Parking
FREE car parking (after 6pm) opposite the centre
Welcome
Non-members are welcome at Branch meetings and events. A voluntary donation of £3 is appreciated, if affordable.
Agenda
- Most meetings feature a talk by a speaker who is a recognised authority on their subject
- Q&A.
- News items
- Short contributions from local members
- Community Talks
- Local Projects
Some members give talks to community groups, in return for a donation to help the work of the society.
To request a speaker, please use the Contact Box
Projects are a vital part of the work of the society, helping to preserve historic records and making information more accessible to a wider public. Without project work, there would be few if any accurate indexes or transcripts accessible to you.
The Computer branch is working on producing a CD containing transcripts and images of the memorial inscriptions in the churchyard of Woodley St John.
Contact
Any questions about Branch activities?
Contact
Gillian Stevens
Branch chairperson