All Events

Navigate the challenges beyond the 1841 census in tracing ancestors. Explore a variety of records, uncovering where and how to access them. Demystify the pre-1837 research journey.

Discover sources that take you further then civil registration

Are you interested in tracing the history of your house and its occupants? Come and sit down with one of our expert advisors who will offer practical guidance and show you how to get started and progress your research. The Research Zone will be open with access to Ancestry Worldwide, Findmypast Worldwide, the British Newspaper Archive and The Genealogist. Plus we will have our extensive collection of local trade directories available to consult. No need to book - just drop in.

Informal discussion group, facilitated by Chad Hanna and Gillian Stevens. Topics are chosen by the group on a monthly basis. End time varies. Free to attend, but pre-booking required. 

Huntley and Palmer played a pivotal role in Reading's history for almost a century and a half. Starting modestly, the company grew to become a global behemoth and a staple of Reading. For those with ancestors who lived in Reading during the Huntley and Palmer years, many will have either worked directly for Huntley and Palmers or to a company that had a connection to them. This online workshop will explore the company's evolution and its significance to Reading's residents throughout its history. Participants will also learn that Reading wasn't the sole location of the company's factories. Additionally, we will uncover some of the more unusual aspects of the company's past. Join Industrial Historian Dr. Richard Marks as he guides us through a significant chapter in the history of Reading and its community.

Yet to visit The Centre for Heritage and Family History and would like to know what’s available there and how it can help your family history research? This tour will introduce you to the facilities of the Centre and also those within the adjoining Local Studies Library. It is free to attend, however pre-booking is required as numbers are limited. If you are inspired to get going, the Research Centre will be open today from 11am to 3pm.

Are you interested in finding out the history of your family home. In this talk, discover the main resources to trace the history of your own home and where your ancestors lived with a leading UK house historian using records locally, nationally, and online.

From 1233 to 1538 Reading had two religious foundations, Reading Abbey and the Reading Franciscan Friary. This talk tells the story of the medieval friary, its friars, and their relationship with the town. It ends with the dissolution under Henry VIII, leaving us just the Greyfriars Church building as a remnant of the past. This is the second of three talks in the Reading Heritage Talks Series. You may book tickets for individual events or for all three talks in the series for a reduced price.  

An evening designed to encourage open discussion about family history research.

This talk looks at the Wills process - what a Will is, what a testament is, and what an administration means, and for those working with older Wills, what you can expect to find and how to translate the, often obscure, text.

Join Rob Entwistle for a tour of the inside and outside of this amazingly interesting church that charts its origins back to 1016 AD when Queen Emma granted permission for an old Saxon chapel to be built. The present North Aisle is the oldest part of the present church, probably built in the 12th century. It still retains the old 'Devil's Door', kept open during christenings to let out the banished evil spirits. The tower is 13th century and the nave, including the roof, is 14th century. The small angelus tower at the south-east corner is highly unusual.