Berkshire Societies

Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources, or support its efforts.

Addresses of the societies are for the most part where their meetings are held as they are by-and-large not brick-and-mortar institutions.

Regional Societies
Goring Gap Local History Society 6 Nun’s Acre Goring Berkshire RG8 9BE UK Telephone: 01491 871022 Website: Goring Gap Local History Society


 * The Society has a good collection of historical material in its archives and has published several booklets. The archives are open to the public by appointment. Members receive an annual journal containing a variety of short articles on topics of local interest. The Society’s oral history project aims to record the memories of local people for posterity.

Oxfordshire Family History Society Exeter Hall 1AB Oxford Rd Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5 UK Telephone: 01865 358151 Email: [mailto:help@ofhs.org.uk help@ofhs.org.uk] Website: Oxfordshire Family History Society


 * The Society was founded in 1976 to encourage and promote the study of Family History. It caters to those with Oxfordshire or North Berkshire ancestry as well as those who live locally but with ancestors from elsewhere.

Wesley Historical Society - London And The South East 7 Hornminster Glen Hornchurch, London RM11 3XL UK Website: Wesley Historical Society - London And The South East


 * The aims of the Society laid down in 1893 were to promote the study of the history and literature of early Methodism, research into the Wesley's, and investigation into the beginnings and development of Methodism. Area: London and the South East.  South East England consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Berkshire Societies
Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society 35 Ock Street Abingdon, Berkshire OX14 5AG UK Email: [mailto:local@aaahs.org.uk local@aaahs.org.uk] Email#2: [mailto:secretary@aaahs.org.uk secretary@aaahs.org.uk] Website: Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society


 * The AAAHS was founded in 1968, and since then it has been the principal meeting point for all who have an interest in the past of Abingdon and its region.

Arborfield Local History Society Arborfield Village Hall Eversley Road Arborfield Wokingham, Berkshire RG2 9PZ UK Email: [Mailto:ianwpotts@gmail.com ianwpotts@gmail.com] Website: Arborfield Local History Society


 * Our village is steeped in history, and our society exists to make it known more widely. We hope that you will learn about the main families, estates and buildings by following the links on the site.

Berkshire Archaeology Research Group (BARG) De Vitre room The Cornerstone Norreys Ave Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1UG UK Telephone: 0118 942 9712 Email: [mailto:mail@barg-online.org mail@barg-online.org] Website: Berkshire Archaeology Research Group (BARG)


 * BARG takes an interest in uncovering evidence for human activity in the Royal County across a broad period from prehistoric times right through to the post-medieval and modern periods.

Berkshire Archaeological Society RISC Centre London Street Reading, Berkshire RG1 4PS UK Telephone: 01628 825288 Email: [mailto:griffinshiresteps@hotmail.com griffinshiresteps@hotmail.com] Website: Berkshire Archaeological Society


 * Berkshire has a rich and varied landscape including parts of the Berkshire Downs, the Kennet valley, the Thames valley and the North Downs. The Society exists to explore, care and promote the Historic Environment of the past and present county of Berkshire.

Berkshire Family History Society Berkshire Family History Society Research Centre Yeomanry House 131 Castle Hill Reading, Berkshire RG1 7TJ UK Telephone: 0118950 9553 Email: [mailto:secretary@berksfhs.org.uk secretary@berksfhs.org.uk] Website: Berkshire Family History Society


 * Objects of the society are to advance education of the public in research into family history and genealogy, primarily but not exclusively within the boundaries of the pre-1974 Royal County of Berkshire; and to work to promote the preservation, transcription, indexing and ready public accessibility of related records and information.

Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group St Mary's Church Castle Street Reading, Berkshire RG1 7RD UK Telephone: 016350 580356 Email: [mailto:secretary@biag.org.uk secretary@biag.org.uk] Website: Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group


 * The Group is for anyone interested in industrial archaeology and history, especially those who live or work in the English county of Berkshire and its surrounds.

Berkshire Local History Association St Nicolas’ Church Hall West Mills Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5HG UK Email: [mailto:secretary@blha.org.uk secretary@blha.org.uk] Website: Berkshire Local History Association


 * The Berkshire Local History Association (BLHA) was founded in 1976 to encourage interest in local history in the county, both before and after the 1974 boundary changes. This includes education and training, research, and publication.

The Berkshire Record Society c/o Berkshire Record Office 9 Coley Avenue Reading, Berkshire RG1 6AF UK Email: [mailto:inform@berkshirerecordsociety.org.uk inform@berkshirerecordsociety.org.uk] Website: The Berkshire Record Society


 * The Society was founded in October 1993 to print scholarly editions of important documents on the history of Berkshire held in the Berkshire Record Office and elsewhere. Our aim is to publish one volume each year and we welcome ideas for new projects.

Blewbury Local History Group Robinsons Church Lane Blewbury Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 9PY UK Telephone: 01235850427 Email: [mailto:audrey.long@waitrose.com audrey.long@waitrose.com] Website: Blewbury Local History Group


 * Blewbury is a pretty downlands village with a thriving community, formerly in Berkshire, now in Oxfordshire. Blewbury Local History Group consists of an informal gathering of friends who take an interest in investigating and preserving historical matters relating to the parish of Blewbury.

Bracknell & District Historical Society Montgomery of Alamein Court Cumberland Close Off Bay Road Bullbrook Bracknell Berkshire RG12 2NE UK Telephone: 01344 625865 Email:[mailto:vera-miller@hotmail.co.uk vera-miller@hotmail.co.uk] Website: Bracknell & District Historical Society


 * The Society, many of whose members live in Ascot, was formed in 1971 and is a Corporate member of the Berkshire Local History Association.

Datchet Village Society Website: Datchet Village Society Website #2: Datchet Village Society


 * In 1995 the Datchet Village Society was formed to help preserve the special character of Datchet and to encourage interest in its history and environment.

Eton Wick History Group Eton Wick Village Hall Eton Wick Rd Eton Wick Windsor, Berkshire L4 6LT UK Website: Eton Wick History Group Website #2:Eton Wick History Group


 * The Eton Wick History Group was founded to research and record local history. Eton Wick and the surrounding area is rich in history and the village has a heritage dating back to 1217.

Faringdon & District Historical & Archaeological Society Old Town Hall The Pump House 5 Market Place Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7HL UK Telephone: 01367 240885 Email: [mailto:fdahs@eurobod.co.uk fdahs@eurobod.co.uk] Website: Faringdon & District Historical & Archaeological Society

Goring & Streatley Local History Society Goring Village Hall Goring Berkshire RG8 9AG UK Telephone:01491 871022 (Evening) Email: [mailto:gslhs@w-mark.demon.co.uk gslhs@w-mark.demon.co.uk] Website: Goring & Streatley Local History Society

The Hungerford Historical Association Town Hall & Corn Exchange Hungerford Berkshire RG17 0NJ UK Telephone: 01488 682932 Email: [mailto:mandm.martin.t21@btinternet.com mandm.martin.t21@btinternet.com] Website: The Hungerford Historical Association


 * A key feature of the HHA in its early years was the formation of research groups – covering Buildings, Great Estates, Pre-History, Town & Manor, Communications, Trade & Industry, Churches & Schools, and Kintbury,

Long Wittenham Local History Group 8 Westfield Road Long Wittenham, OX14 4RF UK Telephone: 01865 407382 Email: [mailto:familyhaylett@yahoo.com familyhaylett@yahoo.com] Website: Long Wittenham Local History Group


 * The group, formed in 1984, researches, collects, studies and shares through publications and exhibitions, all aspects of the local and family history of the parish and local area of Long Wittenham. Long Wittenham was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it from Berkshire to Oxfordshire, and from the former Wallingford Rural District to the new district of South Oxfordshire.

Longworth and District History Society Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Village Hall Draycott Road Southmoor, Oxfordshire OX13 5HX UK Telephone: 01865 820500 Website: Longworth and District History Society


 * The society promotes the local history of the villages of the Golden Ridge on which we lie. These are the villages of Longworth, Kingston Bagpuize, Draycott Moor [Southmoor], Hinton Waldrist and the surrounding hamlets, and supports visits to many places of interest in our locality and beyond.

Maidenhead Archaeological & Historical Society 70 Lambourne Drive Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 3HG UK Telephone: 01628 630 924 Email: [mailto:bandgmadge@btinternet.com bandgmadge@btinternet.com] Website: Maidenhead Archaeological & Historical Society


 * The aim of Maidenhead Archeological & Historical Society is to explore, interpret, preserve and share as much historical and archaeological evidence as we can about the area in which we live, and beyond.

Maidenhead Heritage Centre 18 Park Street Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 1SL UK Telephone: 01628 780555 Email: [Mailto:info@maidenheadheritage.org.uk info@maidenheadheritage.org.uk] Website: Maidenhead Heritage Centre


 * The Maidenhead Heritage Centre and ATA exhibition and archive explores the history of Maidenhead and its surroundings, including the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), which was headquartered at White Waltham airfield during World War II. The mission of the centre is to preserve and celebrate the area’s heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.

Middle Thames Archaeological & Historical Society The Chapel St. Andrew's Church centre Roger's Lane Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4LN UK Email: [mailto:sec.mtahs@yahoo.co.uk sec.mtahs@yahoo.co.uk] Website: Middle Thames Archaeological & Historical Society


 * This society, based in Slough, organises monthly talks on a variety of historical and archaeological subjects.

Project Purley Local History Society The Barn Purley Ln Reading, Berkshire RG8 8AT UK Telephone: 0118 942 2255 Email: [mailto:secretary@project-purley.eu secretary@project-purley.eu] Website: Project Purley Local History Society


 * Project Purley was founded in 1982 by merging three groups, Transcribing Parish Registers, Natural History and Archaeology at the Church. We have an extensive archive of research material including photos, drawings, articles, and copies and transcripts of original documents.

Radley History Club Radley Church of England Primary School Church Road Radley Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3QF UK Email (family history enquiries): [mailto:familyhistory@radleyhistoryclub.org.uk familyhistory@radleyhistoryclub.org.uk] Email (chairman): [mailto:chairman@radleyhistoryclub.org.uk chairman@radleyhistoryclub.org.uk] Website: Radley History Club


 * The village is now in Oxfordshire, formerly in Berkshire. The Club has an ever expanding collection of archives – photographs, maps, documents, books, audiovisual and transciptions of wills. The archives include a library of oral history – audio recordings of interviews with older residents telling their memories. The archive catalogue is presented according to 17 different subject categories (e.g. church, school, people, farms and land).

Sandhurst Historical Society Community Hall Yorktown Rd Sandhurst Berkshire GU47 9BJ UK Telephone: 01252 375579 Website: Sandhurst Historical Society

Stanford in the Vale Local History Society Village Hall Hunters Field Stanford in the Vale Vale of White Horse, Berkshire SN7 8LR UK Website: Stanford in the Vale Local History Society

Sutton Courtenay Local History Society Village Hall Hobbyhorse Lane Sutton Courtenay Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4BB UK Telephone: 01235 848527 Email: [mailto:marydthompson@outlook.com marydthompson@outlook.com] Website: Sutton Courtenay Local History Society


 * The Sutton Courtenay Local History Society aims to promote interest in local history, to undertake research on the history of the village, and to encourage and support research into local family history.

Thatcham Historical Society Sixth Form Block Kennet School Stoney Ln Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4LL UK Telephone: 0118 9712428 Email: [mailto:enquiries@thatchamhistoricalsociety.org.uk enquiries@thatchamhistoricalsociety.org.uk] Website: Thatcham Historical Society


 * The society exists to promote an interest, not only in the local history of Thatcham and district, but also in historical matters in general.

Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society The Piggott School Library Twyford Road Twyford, Berkshire RG10 9NT UK Email: [mailto:audreycurt@gmail.com audreycurt@gmail.com] Website: Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society


 * The Society's objectives are to encourage Research and Interest in the history of Twyford & Ruscombe, hold meetings on historical topics for members, organise visits and days out to places of interest, provide occasional informative Journals to each member, and publish monographs on subjects of interest to members.

Wargrave Local History Society The Pavilion Wargrave Recreation Ground Wargrave Wokingham, Berkshire RG10 8BG Telephone: 0118 940 3121 Email: [mailto:info@wargravehistory.org.uk info@wargravehistory.org.uk ] Website: Wargrave Local History Society


 * The Object of the Society is to provide a common meeting ground for the study and discussion of, and research into, history in general, and of the local area in particular.

Windsor Local History Group Telephone: 01753 864835 Email: [mailto:windsorhistorians@gmail.com windsorhistorians@gmail.com] Website: Windsor Local History Group

Wokingham Society Wokingham Town Hall Market Place Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1AS UK Email: [mailto:secretary@wokinghamsociety.org.uk secretary@wokinghamsociety.org.uk] Website: Wokingham Society


 * The Society's voice has been significant in helping to preserve many local historical features and to ensure that development has been sensitive to the town's heritage.