Welcome to
Berkshire FHS
Helping family historians trace their ancestors
and build their family stories, since 1975 
Join/Renew Now
Meetings at
Berkshire FHS
Over twelve events per month, probably the largest events
programme of any UK FHS
Click the "Subscribe to newsletter" tab to register for our
bi-weekly events email update
View our What's On page
Research aids at
Berkshire FHS
Freely accesible resources for the public, and
premium content for members - including our
events catch-up video service
View our Resources Page
Keep up - with
Berkshire FHS
Our quarterly members' magazine, Berkshire Family Historian
is delivered to your door or your inbox, & our bi-weekly
members' email newsletter keeps you InTouch
View our Archive (members)
Preserve & share with
Berkshire FHS
Use our free online YourTrees service to preserve, display and share your
family tree with members
Learn more
Berkshire FHS
So many reasons to ...
... join today!

In 2025, Berkshire Family History Society celebrates its 50th birthday.

Over the course of this year, we will be celebrating this milestone in a number of ways. We held a celebratory conference on Saturday 7th June.

It was our first conference since 2014, so we aimed to make it a very special experience.  A Conference Report and photo gallery will follow.

But we’re not done yet, we have a some special Jubilee Visits planned throughout the year.

View our dedicated 50th Anniversary page

Founded in 1975, Berkshire Family History Society works to meet the needs of those researching their ancestry across the UK and overseas – as well as those looking for former relatives in historic Berkshire

A registered charity, we exist to help you in your research … WHEREVER your ancestors are from. You do not need to be a member to benefit from our public resources although we have many exclusive member benefits

Our programme of talks, walks and courses is the largest of any family history society in the UK and our family tree facility – YourTrees – enables you to create an online backup of your research and display it online, forever – for free

Join today for immediate access to all member benefits
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Talks - Walks - Workshops - Courses - Meetings

With over twelve events per MONTH, our events programme is probably the largest of any family history society in the UK!

A mix of In-person or Zoom meetings –  most are public, some are for members only

Members have free/discounted access to the full programme and our video catch-up service.  Join now to gain immediate access.

View full events programme

Family History Advice Sessions

Don’t know where to start?  Hit a brick wall?

We offer free family history advice sessions that are open to everyone.

You can book a one-to-one session with an experienced researcher online (our face-to-face sessions at our Research Centre are temporarily paused until we have moved to our new premises.)

We have regular drop in advice sessions at Bracknell and Wokingham Libraries – no booking required.

The next sessions are listed below.  For later dates see our What’s On page.

You can can also drop in to our Research Zone in Reading – no booking required – but please keep an eye out for announcement about our impending move – we will be closed for the duration.

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Shop

Around 1,200 genealogy related products – Books, Maps, Photos, CDs, Data Downloads to help you with your research – we’ve provided a few recommendations for you below

For anything else, the quickest way to find what you need is to use the search box below or in the top menu on every page of the site.  Happy hunting!

Search

Member discount

Members are entitled to 10% discount on products published by the Society. 

The discount code will be displayed below when you are logged in.

Recommended Products

Info and resources for members and guests

Plan your visit

Research zone - opening hours and how to find us

Parish record transcriptions

What names are in our CD/data download index?

Articles and stories

Extracts from our quarterly journal 'The Historian'

Research wizard

A guide to our research related resources

Berkshire data

Specific sets of historical data just for members
Members only

Findmypast discount

Reduce your subscription cost
Members only

The Genealogist

Free access
Members only

YourTrees

Preserve your research, improve your record keeping, and collaborate
Members only

Community forum

Ask questions, provide answers, share experiences
Members only

DNA Special Interest Group

Quarterly online sessions facilitated by Debbie Kennett

Historian archive

All the back editions of the Berkshire Family Historian
Members only

Irish family history

Guides on how to research your Irish ancestors
Members only

Other Societies' journals

Hundreds of journals from our exchange partners
Members only

Pay-to-view videos

Premium content talks and courses

Poll books & electoral registers

Free access to this content
Members only

Places

Around and about Berkshire towns and villages

Poor Law Unions

Maps of the county showing the unions and parishes

Recorded talks

Recorded talks from our extensive events programme
Members only

Records coverage

For a church, cemetery or burial ground

Recycled certificates

Find a good home for unwanted BMD cetificates
Members only