For family historians who live in Berkshire... and for those researching Berkshire ancestors
page reviewed and revised Tuesday 29th July 2014
Who Do You Think You Are? is back on BBC One
Episode One of 10 features Julie Walters—Thursday 7th August at 9 pm Details
Saturday, 18th October A major one-day conference for all researchers Top speakers—expert advice desks—displays from national and local organisations. Have you booked yet—to ensure your first-choice session preferences? Programme outline
supported by Berkshire Record Office and findmypast
28th July 1914 As Serbia accedes to almost all demands of the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum (see 23rd July), the few areas of dissent provide a sufficient pretext for Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, beginning the First World War
29th July 1914 Foreign exchange and money markets having broken down earlier in the week, British banks ration payments of gold sovereigns to depositors—paying out Bank of England £5 notes (the smallest denomination banknote) instead
30th July 1910 First flight of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company's (later the Bristol Aeroplane Company's) Bristol Boxkite, flown by Maurice Edmond—it will be one of the first aircraft to be built in quantity and used for pilot training at Larkhill and Brooklands flying schools, where British aviators will learn to fly
31st July 1914 For the first time in its 117-year history, the London Stock Exchange shuts its doors—and they will stay closed for the next five months
1st August 1932 In a small unit on Slough's industrial estate, Forrest Mars makes the first Mars Bars, with chocolate supplied by Cadbury as Mars had no facility to make his own
2nd August 1914 The first German army units cross into Luxembourg as part of a long-planned German strategy to invade France through neutral Belgium
3rd August 1919 Birkenhead sees a magistrate reading the Riot Act for the last time in Britain after a police strike in Liverpool and the surrounding area prompts widespread riots and looting—3,000 troops and Royal Navy ships are brought in to restore order
20th Century Calendar - see more
3rd August: Halton House & Trenchard Museum—Booking is now closed
16th August: Weald & Downland Open Air Museum
supported by Berkshire Record Office and findmypast
Is your 2014/15 Membership renewal overdue?
Register for Members' Area Data samples in the Members' Area
Wolverhampton, Wiltshire, even Wallingford...
WHEREVER your ancestors came from...find them at the society's Research Centre in Reading—Berkshire's foremost facility for family history research. Open to everyone. And offering FOUR key online resources
findmypast - 500,000 Wiltshire Baptisms added, complementing Berkshire Baptisms, Marriages and Burials transcriptions, and key for West Berkshire
British Newspaper Archive - 8.4 million pages, 260 old UK newspaper titles, including the Berkshire Chronicle, Reading Mercury and Windsor & Eton Express
Origins - National Wills Index + NEW Kent Will extracts and Northamptonshire Hearth Tax abstracts (Origins is now part of findmypast)
Ancestry search WORLDWIDE resources—not just UK
Browse library catalogue Search the catalogue
The Centre is in Reading, next to Berkshire Record Office—home of original records of the Royal County—including those of Vale of the White Horse and North Berkshire. FREE on-site parking
NEW Look out for details of a new discussion group starting from September
How the society can help your research
Is your surname listed here? Benefits of membership
Join the society Starting your research
Explore the Royal County of Berkshire
Tuesday 12th August—drop-in advice at Bracknell library
Tuesday 26th August—drop-in advice at Wokingham library
Meetings - all family historians welcome
Branches meet in Abingdon, Bracknell, Newbury, Reading, Windsor and Woodley—see Main Menu and calendar for details. In July, visits often replace meetings Here's what's happening in July Meetings resume in September.
Berkshire family and local history publications
Berkshire Maps CD OS 1881-1887 ◊ 51 maps, gazetteer and index
Berkshire Baptisms CD ◊ Details of content and coverage
Berkshire Marriages CD ◊ Places and dates
Berkshire Burials CD ◊ Places and dates
Berkshire Probate Index CD 1480-1857 ◊ What wills can tell you
An Historical Atlas of Berkshire ◊ read a review
All CDs and publications available at the Research Centre
Make records of the pre-1974 Royal County of Berkshire more accessible for more people
Quality is key. Who wants unreliable information? Or details that can't be searched intelligently?
Berkshire Family History Society does not publish unchecked material. Almost all Berkshire FHS CDs are fully browsable and searchable, unlike those from some other societies. The projects team needs more people willing to check transcriptions against original records which are held at Berkshire Record Office in Reading. And it would be good to hear from you if you have experience in assembling and building data CDs.
Why not join in and help? Find out what's involved
page reviewed and revised Tuesday 29th July 2014
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