Bringing your family history and heritage together
updated Sunday, 14th April 2019
News and Events...
The society aims to provide products, services and an inspirational and exciting programme of events and activities for members and visitors alike.
Latest news
EASTER CLOSURE AT THE CENTRE The Centre will close from Good Friday, 19th April, until Easter Monday, 22nd April and will reopen at 10.30 am on Tuesday, 23rd April
NEW! Fourth Edition Berkshire Marriages CD Buy now
NEW PUBLICATIONS for Berkshire and elsewhere New CD Berkshire War Memorials, Second Edition See details
EXTENDED MEMBERSHIP OFFER Join to 30th June 2020 Find out more
Events at The Centre for Heritage and Family History
Highlights include:
- Thursday afternoon talks with superb speakers, a chance to meet old friends and make new ones, and a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Spring series 'Grand Houses' now underway
- Thursday, 25th April The Nabobs of Berkshire and their houses Book now
- Workshops Next Scrapbooking for family historians Saturday, 18th May
- Heritage walks and tours Tour of Watlington House, Reading Friday, 17th May (Now fully booked)
- DNA interest group The group met on 13th April
Browse all events at The Centre
View April-June events Opens as a PDF in a new window
Branch meetings and local events
The society runs six branches that meet monthly in Abingdon, Bracknell, Newbury, Reading, Windsor and Woodley. Discover what's happening
Discover your ancestors at The Centre
The Centre for Heritage and Family History
Research Zone opening times:
Monday: 11.00 to 16.00
Tuesday: 10.30 to 16.00 and 18.45 to 21.00
Saturday: 10.30 to 14.30
and the last Thursday each month from 10.30 to 16.00
The Centre for Heritage and Family History, (2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire RG1 3BQ) is in the heart of Reading — easy to reach and fully set up for talks, events, meetings, courses, workshops.
In the Research Zone
WHEREVER your ancestors came from, research your family history in The Centre's Research Zone — with volunteers on hand to help. About The Centre
FREE access to:
FINDMYPAST — Search Berkshire Baptisms now
THE 1939 REGISTER — Key 20th century records
THE GENEALOGIST — data you may not find elsewhere
BRITISH NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE — over 31.4 million digitised newspaper pages from 1700 onwards. Includes 23,000+ editions of seven Berkshire papers (1770-1993) More copies of the Reading Evening Post from the 1960s added. Search newspapers now
ANCESTRY — Search the WORLDWIDE edition
The society can help your research in many ways. There's lots of helpful information online here How to get started
Members' matters
NEW MEMBERS Have family anecdotes and stories made you determined to discover the family history? Find those ancestors — and JOIN THE SOCIETY
MEMBERS' AREA RECENTLY ADDED — key websites to help in finding Scottish ancestors. Discover the best Irish websites for your research too. Just two of some 250 items in the Members' Area. Not registered? Do it now
Gift Memberships to June 2020 still available - buy online or in person at The Centre for Heritage and Family History.
Follow @BerkshireFHS on TWITTER and link up with Berkshire Genealogy on FACEBOOK
More News and Resources
Irish Census corrections Professional genealogist, John Grenham, has worked through vast numbers of researcher-submitted corrections in the past 18 months. All verified suggestions now uploaded to the National Archives of Ireland's website. Read John's account of this mammoth task.
National Archives of Ireland — new website design Learn more
DNA testing For more about DNA in family history, visit the ISOGG wiki
New Archive Card coming soon with 41 participating archives and record offices — look out for details of registration.
Irish Genealogy News Claire Santry's blog
The Great Irish Famine online access interactive maps with detailed information on the famine's impacts on 3,000 civil parishes and 1,600 towns across the island. More details
New York passenger arrivals 1820-1957 Ellis Island website
Reading Abbey Have you explored the Abbey Ruins yet?
Publications for Berkshire and elsewhere
County-wide CD publications:
Berkshire Baptisms ◊ Content and coverage
NEW 4th Edition Berkshire Marriages ◊ Places and dates
Berkshire Burials ◊ Content and coverage
NEW War Memorials CD, and another NEW Berkshire Monumental Inscriptions Volume 3 CD Buy now
Members enjoy worthwhile discounts on society publications and event bookings
Buy publications (some for other counties too) at The Centre for Heritage and Family History or visit the online Bookshop
Volunteers are vital
Unpaid volunteers run all aspects of society operations.
With the society now firmly and successfully established at The Centre for Heritage and Family History in Reading's Abbey Quarter, it is easier than ever for you to volunteer and make a difference — whether in a key role behind the scenes or in 'front of house' work with visitors at society events and activities.
Volunteering is fun, socially and personally rewarding, and fulfilling. Give a little, gain a lot — Drop in and chat with us - or send an email
updated Sunday, 14th April 2019
Update your browsers — Firefox (latest - 66.0.3), Opera (58.0.3135.127), Google Chrome (73.0.3683.x - dependent on device) or try Vivaldi (2.4.1488.35) with Qwant search engine. Pages may display imperfectly with outdated versions. Please, tell us if something isn't working. Website problem? Check here
