For family historians living in Berkshire and those with Berkshire ancestors
updated Friday, 30th March 2018
The Centre for Heritage and Family History
Events at The Centre
The Spring series of afternoon talks — with tea, cakes and an expert speaker — starts on Wednesday, 11th April. The theme of this series is The English Civil War marking the 375th anniversary of the siege of Reading in April 1643.
King Charles I, Gerrit van Honthorst, 1628, National Portrait Gallery, London, 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Starting at 2 pm, Mike Cooper traces the History and significance of Southcote Manor. The manor's history can be traced back to at least the 13th century. Later linked to the Blagrave family, in 1643 the manor became the headquarters of the Earl of Essex who led the force that besieged Reading.
View the full talks programme and find out how to book tickets (via The Centre when open, or online). Bookings now being taken for all talks in the Spring series on the theme of The English Civil War
The Society's new premises are in the heart of Reading — ideally located, easy to reach and newly equipped for talks, events, meetings, courses, workshops — and your family history research too.
The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire RG1 3BQ
Members' matters
NEW EXTENDED MEMBERSHIP OFFER From 1st April, you can enjoy all the benefits of membership to 30th June 2019. JOIN NOW
GIFT MEMBERSHIPS More details
THE MARCH BERKSHIRE FAMILY HISTORIAN has been mailed to all members. You can read an online copy in the Members' Area.
Did you receive a 'special' cover sheet with your magazine? Rules change very soon (25th May) on how the society can contact its members. Return your contact preferences right away (if you have yet to do so), and ensure that the society continues to help you to get the most from your membership.
DISCOUNTS FOR MEMBERS on society publications, on enhanced research services and on tickets for events (those where a charge is made). Find current discount codes in the March Berkshire Family Historian. Or log into the Members' Area for a digital copy.
Register to access the Members' Area today
Follow @BerkshireFHS on TWITTER and link up with Berkshire Genealogy on FACEBOOK
What's on at The Centre?
Wednesday Afternoon talks — have you been to one yet? The first talk in the Spring series is on Wednesday, 11th April — see above.
NOTE The Beginner's course in Family History was fully booked very quickly. You may want to put your name down for the next one Contact Events
How to secure your place for a talk or event
Local meetings each month in ABINGDON, BRACKNELL, NEWBURY, READING, WINDSOR and WOODLEY
OUTREACH Society volunteers offer regular family history help and advice in libraries at Abingdon, Bracknell, Cippenham, Newbury, Slough (The Curve), Thatcham, Tilehurst and Wokingham — See Calendar
Research your Family Tree at The Centre
The Centre for Heritage and Family History — second floor, Reading Central Library — IT'S WHERE YOU GO FOR YOUR FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH — wherever your ancestors came from.
Open for personal research on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. About The Centre
Additional PCs added to reflect visitor numbers. At The Centre, you have FREE online access to:
FINDMYPAST — best for Berkshire parish records. Most (not all) of the society's published parish register transcriptions are here Try searching Berkshire Burials now and Findmypast is adding mothers' maiden names (pre-July 1911) in increasing numbers too.
THE 1939 REGISTER 41 million records from 1939 + another 60,000 previously closed records now open. Dates of birth, single and married names, and more. A key resource for 20th century research
THE GENEALOGIST — Newly added — Meritorious Service Medal records More details
THE BRITISH NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE — over 24.7 million digitised pages Pages from the Windsor and Eton Express, 1911 and from the Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser, 1873 just added Look for your ancestors in the papers from the 1700s onwards
ANCESTRY — WORLDWIDE edition — to help you find your ancestors wherever their origins might be Go to website
How to start your Family History research
NEWS and RESOURCES for family historians
A CHANGE AT TNA Changes to car parking arrangements come into effect from 3rd April at The National Archives
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES' holdings online 66 guides to what's available
NEWLY ACCREDITED ARCHIVE SERVICES Good to see that a further 20 archive services have achieved accredited status
SWEDISH ANCESTORS? Riksarkivet Digital collections at the Swedish National Archives are free to search and view
BIRMINGHAM BURIAL AND CREMATION RECORDS Over 1.5 million Birmingham City Council records are now searchable online but downloading details is £5 each time.
SEEDS OF MARITIME EMPIRE Dr Craig Lambert's University of Southampton project The Merchant Fleet of Late Medieval and Tudor England, 1400-1580 has some remarkable details of England's maritime capacity in those years
GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE: The GRO has a pilot service to provide portable document format (PDF) copies of digitised historical birth (1837-1916) and death (1837-1957) records. This service runs to June 2018, maybe longer. Learn more
DNA TESTING A useful review of tests available for family history research For more on DNA testing, visit the ISOGG wiki
MAPS National Library of Scotland for 25 inch OS Maps of England and Wales 1841-1952 Find out more
IRISH GENEALOGY NEWS Read Claire Santry's blog
FINALLY tying in nicely with The English Civil War here's another useful link Berkshire Protestation Returns 1641/42
Publications for Berkshire and elsewhere
Society members enjoy a discount when buying society publications (and when booking for events).
NEW 12th EditionBerkshire Burials CD ◊ Content and coverage
Berkshire Baptisms Second Edition CD ◊ Content and coverage
Berkshire Marriages Third Edition CD ◊ Places and dates
See and buy society publications, and material for other counties too, at The Centre for Heritage and Family History or visit the online Bookshop
Volunteers are key to the society's success
With a society base in Reading town centre, it is easier than ever for volunteers to play their part in activities that most appeal to them. There is always room for extra volunteers to help the charity to achieve more.
Whether you want to offer your help on an odd afternoon, or to be a regular volunteer, all offers of help are welcome and appreciated. Enthusiasm and a friendly outgoing approach count for a lot.
Volunteering is fun, rewarding and can be satisfying and fulfilling, especially when you help someone to make a real discovery in their family history research.
Put your skills and experience to work. Get in touch
updated Friday, 30th March 2018
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