For family historians living in Berkshire and those with Berkshire ancestors
updated Tuesday, 11th December 2018
Now is the season...
Gift Memberships - buy online or in person at The Centre
Order these (and any other online purchases) by Monday, 17th December to receive them in time for Christmas (UK).
What's coming up at The Centre in 2019?
January - March highlights:
- Enjoy five afternoon talks all taking 'Transport' as their broad theme
- Understand old handwriting — book now for a 3-session course
- Benefit from workshops — on Merchant Navy records, on Censuses and on Wills
- Take a fresh look at the town on a Reading History walk
Browse all events at The Centre
The Centre for Heritage and Family History
Opening days and times:
Monday: 11.00 to 16.00
Tuesday: 10.30 to 16.00 and 18.45 to 21.00
Note: Natter Session is on 11th December.
Saturday: 10.30 to 14.30
and the LAST Thursday each month from 10.30 to 16.00
Christmas and New Year opening
Last day before Christmas for research and personal shopping is this Saturday, 15th December. (Last day for online orders is Monday, 17th December to receive items for Christmas.)
The Centre will reopen for researchers on Saturday, 5th January
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 equipped for talks, events, meetings, courses, workshops.
WHEREVER your ancestors came from, research your family history in The Centre's Research Zone — with computers for your research and volunteers on hand to help. About The Centre
FREE access to:
FINDMYPAST — Search Berkshire Burials now
THE 1939 REGISTER — Vital for 20th century research
THE GENEALOGIST — data you may not find elsewhere
BRITISH NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE — search over 29 million newspaper pages from 1700 onwards includes over 23,000 editions of seven Berkshire papers published from 1770 to 1958
ANCESTRY — Search the WORLDWIDE edition
The society can help you in your research in many other ways. And there's lots of helpful information on this website. First, ideas to help you to start your Family History research
More about this society
Branch meetings and local events
Find out what's happening at a Branch near you
Members' matters
YOUR DECEMBER MAGAZINE — has arrived or will reach you very soon. Has NEW coupon codes for events and publications
NEW MEMBERS As families gather together for seasonal celebrations, what better time for family history research? — and to JOIN THE SOCIETY
YOUR IRISH FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH
Have you seen the new list of Irish websites in the Members' Area? A list for Scottish research will be published very soon too.
Register for the Members' Area NOW
Follow @BerkshireFHS on TWITTER and link up with Berkshire Genealogy on FACEBOOK
Other News and Resources
Channel 4 family history series My Family Secrets Revealed
DNA testing See Debbie Kennett's guide in December's Who Do You Think You Are magazine
DNA testing For a useful review of tests available for family history research and more about DNA in family history, visit the ISOGG wiki
The National Archives New car parking charges from January
New Archive Card from April 2019. with 41 participating archives and record offices — registration begins in the New Year.
General Register Office: pilot service providing PDF copies of digitised historical birth (1837-1916) and death (1837-1957) records continues indefinitely. Learn more
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 explore the Abbey Ruins
Publications for Berkshire and elsewhere
Members enjoy useful discounts when they buy society publications or book for events.
Berkshire Baptisms CD ◊ Content and coverage
Berkshire Marriages CD ◊ Places and dates
Berkshire Burials CD ◊ Content and coverage
See and buy society publications, material for other counties too, at The Centre for Heritage and Family History or visit the online Bookshop
Volunteers are vital to society success
With the society successfully established at The Centre for Heritage and Family History in Reading's Abbey Quarter, it is easier than ever to play a part in society events, activities and tasks.
Being a volunteer is fun, rewarding, and fulfilling, especially when helping someone to make a real breakthrough in their family history research. But there are many other roles too.
In 2019, why not resolve to share your skills and experience as a society volunteer? Get in touch
updated Tuesday, 11th December 2018
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