The Centre closes for Christmas on Monday 16th December and reopens Monday 6th January at 10.30am.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year from all the volunteers at Berkshire FHS
“It is a shame I should suffer more than the rest, as others are as guilty as I am.” - John Abell, 13 July 1837
In March 1785 when Thomas Heddington (surname is also recorded as Headington, Eddington, Addington and Haddington) broke into Isaac Sewell’s house, I am sure he had no idea that he would be part of the first British settlement of Australia.
Much has been written about the Bullock, Malthouse and Montague families over the last two centuries, providing some excellent resources, but the potential relationship between these families during the early to mid sixteenth century remains very muddled.
Old King Cole was a merry old soul - we all know that. What you didn't know, perhaps, was that he was my grandad.
In May, the Berkshire Family History Society and the scouts gave me a long-awaited pleasure. Having heard stories of the chalk mines in Emmer Green, I had given up hope of ever visiting; but the wait was wort
c. 2009, the lane in Padworth on which the church and Padworth House stand was named Sopers Lane, chosen to commemorate one of the village's oldest families. Shirley Dixon has researched the family for many years.
Roy Starkey highlights one of Berkshire's notable families, the Russells of Swallowfield Park - the home of Sir Arthur Russell
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 and Windsor; and a virtual Computer Branch which meets online. All meetings are open to everyone
Community forum – 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