A close-up of dried rose petals in shades of deep magenta, pink, and faded yellow.

Autumn Potpourri of Social History Talks Series

This all series ticket covers all three talks in the Autumn "Potpourri of Social History" talks series, for the discounted price of £12.50 (members £10.00).

The historic stone ruins of Reading Abbey in Berkshire, with the modern, sail-shaped Blade building rising in the background.

Medieval Reading – a walkabout

An in-person guided walkabout for local history enthusiasts exploring the rich medieval heritage of Reading, from Viking invasions to the Abbey.

AI generated image. A diverse group of people, some in historical costumes, engage in various activities in a modern library setting.

Heritage Open Days – Open Day

An in-person drop-in open day for family history beginners and researchers to explore our archives, use premium databases and get expert guidance.

Heritage Open Days – Open Day

An in-person drop-in open day for family historians and local history enthusiasts to explore our research centre and get expert genealogy advice.

A blue and yellow British Rail diesel locomotive emerges from a tunnel cut into red sandstone cliffs, passing a small brick trackside hut.

British Rail in Berkshire in the 1970s

The 1970s was a decade of extremes, eccentricities, and enduring legacies - and this talk describes the highs, lows, and legendary catering of a remarkable era in Britain’s railway history.

A festive, illustrated scene of a decorated Christmas tree with colorful ornaments and a gold star, surrounded by wrapped gifts next to a glowing fireplace.

Christmas Social & Quiz

Come and join us for a Combined Branches' Christmas Social. It will be a chance to get together, catch up on Society developments and chat to other members of the Society.

AI generated image. A medieval scene depicts an archer, a fallen man with arrows, villagers, and a tavern with gravestones.

Everyday Life & Fatal History in 16th Century Oxfordshire

An in-person talk for family historians exploring everyday hazards and accidental deaths in Tudor Oxfordshire, using 16th-century coroners' reports.

A row of historic Victorian stone townhouses with wrought-iron railings and small front gardens along a sunny street.

Eldon Road area, Reading, a historical tour

David Cliffe will guide us around the historic area bounded by Eldon Road and Watlington Street. This is a conservation area and famed for some stunning Georgian architecture.

A red brick building with a prominent cream-colored gable and large multi-pane windows, situated behind a low brick boundary wall.

Tour of Family Research Centre

Join us for a FREE tour of Berkshire Family History Society's new Family Research Centre. Pre-booking required.

Tour of the Former Fair Mile Hospital, Cholsey

The Fair Mile Hospital (before 1948 known by a succession of different names) was until relatively recently Berkshire’s county lunatic asylum. Ian Wheeler will take us around the site with a site plan to help visualise the hospital as it once was.

Houses and Estates Talks Series

This all series ticket covers all three talks in the "Houses and Estates" Talks series, for the discounted price of £12.50 (members £10). Alll talks are on Thursdays at 2.30pm at the Abbey Baptist Church in Reading.

A vintage school slate with the alphabet engraved on its wooden frame, resting with a slate pencil in front of a leather satchel.

Education c.1860 – c.1914 POSTPONED

Discover how the provision for education for our English ancestors was transformed between 1860 and the start of the First World War in this two hour workshop.

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