Yorkshire 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.

The Yorkshire Group of Family History Societies may be seen here.

Regional Society
Cleveland Family History Society Meetings are held at three venues - click here Email: [mailto:membership@cleveland.org.uk membership@cleveland.org.uk] Website: Cleveland Family History Society


 * Welcome to the Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Family History Society as it is more formally known. The title was designed to describe more accurately the area of genealogical and historical interest covered by the Society. Cleveland FHS was set up in 1980 to provide a service for family historians which covers the old county of Cleveland and the following areas of County Durham and North Yorkshire: County Durham – all parishes south of a line from Hart on the east coast to Middleton in Teesdale and North Yorkshire – most of the old North Riding from Whitby to Hawes.

Hartlepool Family History Group Grange Road Methodist Church Community Centre 46 Tankerville Street Hartlepool, County Durham TS26 8DU UK Telephone: 01429 282012 Email: [mailto:richard.wilson123@btinternet.com richard.wilson123@btinternet.com] Website: Hartlepool Family History Group


 * Hartlepool Family History Group is a branch of the Cleveland Family History Society. We hold nine monthly meetings in Hartlepool each year, excluding July, August and December. We invite speakers to talk about a range of family, social and local history topics. At our meetings there will always be someone who you can give any advice you may need while tracing your family. You do not need to have Hartlepool ancestry, most of us have families from all points around the country but enjoy coming to our meetings and joining the Society.

Hunter Archaeological Society Diamond Building Sheffield University 32 Leavygreave Road Sheffield, Yorkshire S3 7RD UK Telephone: 0114 288 2640 Email: [mailto:secretary@hunterarchaeologicalsociety.org.uk secretary@hunterarchaeologicalsociety.org.uk] Website: Hunter Archaeological Society


 * The Hunter Archaeological Society studies and reports on the archaeology, history and architecture of South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.

Sedgefield Family History Group Ceddesfeld Hall Rectory Row Sedgefield Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham TS21 2AE UK Telephone: 01740 620367 Email: [mailto:sylvia.hall2@googlemail.com sylvia.hall2@googlemail.com] Website: Sedgefield Family History Group Second Website: Sedgefield Family History


 * A friendly discussion group for those with Family History interests in and around the Sedgefield area of County Durham. It is a branch of the Cleveland Family History Society.We welcome people from across the world with an interest in the northern part of North Yorkshire and the southern part of County Durham (before the boundary changes of 1974). It is also a group for people resident in the Sedgefield and surrounding area that have taken up researching their Family History and wish share their interests with other like minded people.

Upper Dales Family History Group Meetings are held at two locations - click here Telephone: 0743 2677 783 Email: [mailto:moverley.yorkshire@outlook.com moverley.yorkshire@outlook.com] Website: Upper Dales Family History Group


 * The Upper Dales Family History Group (UDFHG) is a branch of the Cleveland Family History Society. The aim of the Group is to support those members whose ancestors had their roots in Wensleydale and Swaledale. These ancestors often wandered far and wide so it is not surprising that our members' genealogical interests spread nationally and internationally.

Yorkshire Societies
Aston cum Aughton History Group William Layne Reading Room Aughton Lane Aston Sheffield, South Yorkshire S26 2AN UK Email: [mailto:info@astonhistorygroup.co.uk info@astonhistorygroup.co.uk] Website: Aston cum Aughton History Group


 * As a group, we continue to research the history of the parish of Aston-cum-Aughton, recording memories and investigating records held in local libraries and archives.

Barnsley Family History Society Buckley Methodist Church Union Court Barnsley, Yorkshire and the Humber S70 1JN UK Email: [mailto:secretary@barnsleyfhs.co.uk secretary@barnsleyfhs.co.uk] Website: Barnsley Family History Society


 * This is a long established society with the specific aim of supporting the family historian who wishes to research Barnsley and the surrounding area family history. We offer access to databases of names and places collected from a variety of sources including parish records, census returns, electoral registers, local newspapers, military lists, non-conformist sources, maps and wills, etc.


 * The Society takes a special interest in the region centred on Barnsley, extending from Thurnscoe and Goldthorpe in the East, to Dunford Bridge and Penistone in the West, and from Darton in the North, to Wortley in the South. This area includes the ancient parishes of Cawthorne, Darfield, Darton, Felkirk, High Hoyland, Hoyland Nether, Monk Bretton, Penistone, Royston, Silkstone (formerly included Barnsley), Tankersley, Worsbrough, and Wortley, these forming a part of the Archdeaconry of Doncaster.

Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society John Rylie Community Centre Carrfield Road Barwick in Elmet Leeds, West Yorkshire LS15 4JB UK Telephone: 0113 3935729/0790 4234900 Email: [mailto:kjbaxter61@gmail.com kjbaxter61@gmail.com] Website: Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society


 * The Barwick in Elmet Historical Society is devoted to the recording, research and publication of the history of this Yorkshire parish.

Bilton Historical Society Bilton Community Centre Bilton Lane Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 3DU UK Telephone: 01423 866977 Website: Bilton Historical Society


 * The Society was formed in 1996 to record, investigate and promote an awareness of Bilton's heritage and future, to unravel the secrets of Bilton’s past, its people, buildings, railways, industry, the royal hunting park and a lost way of life.

Bolsterstone Archaeology and Heritage Group Village Hall Heads Ln Bolsterstone Sheffield, Yorkshire S36 3ZB UK Website: Bolsterstone Archaeology and Heritage Group


 * Bolsterstone Archaeology and Heritage Group is a community group dedicated to exploring all aspects of our past, through archaeology, history, or in whatever way we can. We are an eclectic group of diverse backgrounds, with interests ranging far and wide. We are open to all times and places, but with our main focus on the heritage of Bolsterstone, the surrounding hills and valleys, and the region of South Yorkshire.

 Boothferry Family and Local History Group The Courtyard Boothferry Road (opposite Morrisons supermarket) Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire DN14 6AE UK Telephone: 01405 762189 Email: [mailto:harvey.tripp@btinternet.com harvey.tripp@btinternet.com] Website: Boothferry Family and Local History Group


 * In 1988, a small group of local residents joined together to form the Boothferry Family and Local History Group. Their initial work was researching about families and documenting family trees, this was soon followed by an interest in local history.

Bradfield Historical Society Low Bradfield Village Hall 6LB The Sands Sheffield, Yorkshire S6 UK Telephone: 0114 2337463 Email: [mailto:bradfield.history@mypostoffice.co.uk bradfield.history@mypostoffice.co.uk] Website: Bradfield Historical Society


 * Bradfield Historical Society holds monthly meetings and now specialise in talks and research about the Sheffield Flood of 1864.The Society takes part in other local events held in the area such as Craft Fairs, Galas, Environment events etc. In 1997 a third volume of Bygones of Bradfield was published. This and other books are available through the Society.

Brinsworth and Catcliffe Local History Group Brinsworth Pavilion (rear of the Community Centre) Brinsworth Lane Brinsworth, Yorkshire S6O 5DG UK Telephone: 01709 364089 Email: [mailto:airsy12@tiscali.co.uk airsy12@tiscali.co.uk] Website: Brinsworth and Catcliffe Local History Group


 * The aims of the Group are to promote the knowledge learned by research, to the wider audience of Brinsworth & Catcliffe. To share this information to the younger generation by visiting local schools. To record this information for years to come. Many of the elderly residents have recorded their life stories and they are in the archives at Brinsworth Comprehensive School.

Broomhill Local History Group Website: Broomhill Local History Group


 * The Broomhill Local History Group was formed in 1988 to record and research the history of the "prettiest suburb in England". As part of this research each house has been "re-inhabited" from the time it was built up to 1940. This has been done from census returns, rate books, directories, electoral rolls and other miscellaneous sources. Since people living as lodgers are not usually given in directories, nor are there entries for working class inhabitants, it is not a complete record. There is a Iist of more than 11,500 heads of households, with addresses and dates as well as additional information on many of them - that may be of help to you in tracing your ancestors.

Calderdale Family History Society 4 Rawson Avenue Manor Heath Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 0JP UK Email: [mailto:secretary@cfhsweb.co secretary@cfhsweb.com] Website: Calderdale Family History Society


 * A warm welcome to you from the Calderdale FHS. Founded in 1985, we are a group of family historians who help each other with their research. On this web site you will find information about the Society, the area and the research interests of our members.

City of York and District Family History Society The Raylor Centre James Street off Lawrence Street York, Yorkshire YO10 3DW UK Telephone: 01904 412204 (Research Room opening hours only) Email: [mailto:yorkfamilyhistory@btopenworld.com yorkfamilyhistory@btopenworld.com] Website: City of York and District Family History Society


 * Our aim is to bring together local people who share the same interest and to provide a point of contact for those members who, although not living in the area, have their roots within the modern Archdeaconry. The Society covers the modern Archdeaconry of York which stretches from Coxwold, Hovingham and Sherburn in Harfordlythe in the North to Ledsham, Birkin, Selby and Drax in the South. As well as from Bramham, Bilton and Sherburn in Elmet in the West to Huggate and Bubwith in the East.  The Society’s area overlaps parishes covered in the West by the Yorkshire Archaeological Society and in the East by The East Yorkshire Family History Society.

Conisbrough & Denaby Main Heritage Group Ivanhoe Centre Gardens Lane Doncaster, Yorkshire DN12 3JX UK Telephone: 01709 860764 Email: [mailto:secretary@conisbroughheritage.co.uk secretary@conisbroughheritage.co.uk] Website: Conisbrough & Denaby Main Heritage Group


 * This group is about the history of the two villages of Conisbrough and Denaby Main and the people who have lived here.

Conisbrough & Denaby Main Local History Group Website: Conisbrough & Denaby Main Local History Group


 * Chronicling the history of two unique villages, Conisbrough and Denaby Main, the site contains over 5000 pages and 2000 pictures and is growing daily.

Cudworth Family History Group The Acorn Centre High Street Grimethorpe Barnsley, Yorkshire S72 7BB UK Telephone: 07720 602349 Email: [mailto:noelandblackie@btinternet.com noelandblackie@btinternet.com] Website: Cudworth Family History Group


 * To promote a wider understanding and knowledge of local history and to preserve and store any historical information for the benefit of present and future generations. This will include the collection, categorising, archiving and displaying of materials which are considered to be part of the heritage of Cudworth.

Cudworth Local History and Heritage Group Cudworth Centre of Excellence Robert St Cudworth Barnsley, Yorkshire S72 8UQ UK Email: [mailto:cudworth@one-place-studies.org cudworth@one-place-studies.org] Website: Cudworth Local History and Heritage Group


 * The Group aims to collect or copy and record items such as photographs, deeds, brochures, advertisements, postcards, maps and bits & bobs that relate to the history of Cudworth.

Dinnington and District Historical Society Dinnington Resource Center 131 Laughton Rd Dinnington Sheffield, Yorkshire S25 2PP UK Telephone: 01909 569982 Website: Dinnington and District Historical Society


 * The Society was formed twelve years ago by like minded people who wished to encourage an interest in our local history. Dinnington and its surrounding areas has a fascinating tapestry of many layers including its people and events that go back many thousands of years to the present.

Doncaster & District Family History Society Palgrave Research Centre King Edward Road Balby Doncaster, Yorkshire DN4 0NA UK Telephone: 07828 207323 Website: Doncaster & District Family History Society


 * The Society's objectives are to provide a forum for members to meet and discuss the study of family history and genealogy, to produce a journal regularly; to arrange a programme of lectures, visits and other activities connected with subjects of interest to the Society; to seek out, transcribe, index and wherever possible publish or make available material relevant to the interests of the Society; and to provide guidance in family history research and study to those living elsewhere whose families come from the area.

Dore Oral History Group Email: [mailto:website@dorevillage.co.uk website@dorevillage.co.uk] Website: Dore Village Society


 * Dore Oral History Group is linked with Dore Village Society. The group aims to collect the recorded memories of people living and/or working in Dore throughout the 20th and early 21st Centuries.

Dore Village Society Dore Old School Savage Lane Dore Sheffield, Yorkshire S17 3GW UK Telephone: 01143 271 054 Email: [mailto:website@dorevillage.co.uk website@dorevillage.co.uk] Website: Dore Village Society


 * The Society aims to foster the protection and enhancement of the local environment and amenities within Dore, to encourage a spirit of community and to record its historic development.

East Yorkshire Family History Society Meetings are held at four venues - click here Telephone (Bridlington): 01262 674829 Email (Help desk): [mailto:helpdesk@eyfhs.org.uk helpdesk@eyfhs.org.uk] Email (Bridlington): [mailto:bridlington@eyfhs.org.uk bridlington@eyfhs.org.uk] Email (Scarborough): [mailto:scarborough@eyfhs.org.uk scarborough@eyfhs.org.uk] Website: East Yorkshire Family History Society


 * During your visit please check the EYFHS events calendar to discover what is happening at our meetings in Beverley, Bridlington, Hull and Scarborough. Everyone is welcome to join us at any of our meetings, members and nonmembers alike.  We also operate a number of free Help Desks across the East Riding so check the dates and times and let's have a crack at those 'brick walls' together.

Ecclesall Local History Group Mylnhurst School Button Hill Ecclesall Sheffield, Yorkshire S11 9HJ UK Website: Ecclesall Local History Group


 * We regret that due to the large number of requests we have been receiving we are no longer able to help with family history matters.

Gleadless Valley Local History Group Terry Wright Community Hall (formerly Newfield Green Tenants Hall) Gleadless Road Newfield Green Sheffield, Yorkshire S2 2BT UK Website: Gleadless Valley Local History Group


 * A local history group for residents of Gleadless Valley to find out more about their community and its history.

Grenoside and District Local History Group Grenoside Community Centre Lower Hall Main St Grenoside Sheffield, Yorkshire S35 8PR UK Email: [mailto:info@grenosidelocalhistory.co.uk info@grenosidelocalhistory.co.uk] Website: Grenoside and District Local History Group


 * The group’s aims are to hold events, collect material and publish information to stimulate the interest and knowledge of Grenoside. We also encourage and support individuals in their own research as well as developing group research. As a group we are also interested in hearing from people who no longer live in the area but have memories, memorabilia and photos of the area they would be willing to share with us.

Harrogate and District Family History Society St Paul's Church Hall Belford Rd Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 1EL UK Website: Harrogate and District Family History Society


 * We promote and encourage the public study of both family and local history in the Harrogate and surrounding areas.  We also promote the preservation, security and accessibility of archive

material.

Hillsborough and Owlerton Local History Group The Hillsborough Sports Arena Seminar Room Middlewood Road Hillsborough Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber, S6 4HA UK Website: Hillsborough and Owlerton Local History Group


 * The Group's website is intended to give anyone in the world access to information about the history of Hillsborough and Owlerton in the City of Sheffield. Essentially it covers Sheffield 6 which includes the villages of Loxley, Middlewood and Wadsley including the Don, Loxley and Rivelin Valleys. It is a suburb with many fine old buildings. There was an explosion of activity during the industrial revolution of both housing for ordinary workers and small industrial concerns though for centuries small water-powered mills were situated along the rivers. Some of these were destroyed in the Great Flood of 1864 never to be built again.

Huddersfield and District Family History Society Headquarters and Research Centre The Root Cellar 33A Greens End Road Meltham Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD9 5NW UK Email: [mailto:secretary@hdfhs.org.uk secretary@hdfhs.org.uk] Website: Huddersfield and District Family History Society


 * The Society’s aims are to promote and encourage mutual help between people interested in Family History and Genealogy.  The Society caters particularly for those with interests in the Metropolitan District of Kirklees. The area comprises Batley, Colne Valley, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Holme Valley, Kirkburton, Meltham, Mirfield, and Spen Valley, an area of nearly 160 square miles. Within its boundaries lie the eleven ancient parishes of Almondbury, Batley, Birstall, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Emley, Kirkburton, Kirkheaton, Mirfield and Thornhill. High Hoyland, Halifax and Saddleworth are on the fringes of the area and some parts of these ancient parishes are included.

Keighley and District Family History Society Local Studies Library (former Reference Library) Keighley Public Library 1 Albert St Keighley Bradford, West Yorkshire BD21 2AT UK Email: [mailto:fhs_membership@kdfhs.org.uk fhs_membership@kdfhs.org.uk] Website: Keighley and District Family History Society


 * With a focus on family history in the West Riding of Yorkshire town of Keighley, the Keighley and District Family History Society was created in 1986. It soon became apparent however that there was significant interest from the outlying districts. Through this interest the Society has expanded to what we have today, covering quite a large area of the County of Yorkshire, especially North Yorkshire.  Family history remains as the focus of our research, helping members to find out details of their own families.

Kiveton Park and Wales History Society St. Johns Rooms Wales Road Kiveton Park, Sheffield S26 6RA UK Email: [mailto:kivetonwaleshistory@yahoo.co.uk kivetonwaleshistory@yahoo.co.uk] Website: Kiveton Park and Wales History Society


 * The Society has been in existence since 2006 and has become a well established pillar of our community thanks, in no small measure, to the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of its membership. Our comprehensive and extremely popular website allows us to provide our community with a comprehensive and stimulating pictorial, oral and written history of our villages.

Maltby Local History Society Maltby Community Library 42 High St Maltby Rotherham, South Yorkshire S66 8LA UK Telephone: 01709 812150 Website: Maltby Local History Society

Marshland Local History Group Swinefleet Village Hall Swinefleet, Yorkshire DN14 8DQ UK Email: [mailto:rona.dickinson@btinternet.com rona.dickinson@btinternet.com] Website: Marshland Local History Group


 * Marshland, a part of England relatively unknown to tourists, lies to the south of Yorkshire’s River Ouse. The History Group is concerned with the five villages closest to the river, Swinefleet, Reedness, Whitgift and Ousefleet and Adlingfleet.

Mexborough and District Heritage Society Mexborough Library & CSC John Street Mexborough, South Yorkshire S64 9HS UK Telephone: 01709 582037 Email: [mailto:mexboroughheritage@yahoo.co.uk mexboroughheritage@yahoo.co.uk] Website: Mexborough and District Heritage Society


 * Our aim is to record and preserve details of the area’s rich past – the buildings, the way of life and more importantly the people who worked so hard to create a thriving community. We have also developed an online archive on our website for public access to information on the area’s heritage.

Morley & District Family History Group St Mary's Church Hall (opposite Morley Library) Commercial St Morley Leeds, West Yorkshire LS27 8HZ UK Website: Morley & District Family History Group


 * We are a small and friendly group whose aims are to promote and encourage mutual help between like-minded people - who are interested in their ancestors, who they were, what they did and what their lives may have been like. Whether your ancestors were Morley born and bred, just passing through, or never went near the place, you, yourself, are assured of a helpful and friendly YORKSHIRE welcome.

Nether Edge History Group Email: [mailto:john.bax@blueyonder.co.uk john.bax@blueyonder.co.uk] Website: Nether Edge History Group


 * The Nether Edge History Group is based in the Nether Edge district of Sheffield and is part of the Nether Edge Neighbourhood Group. It is interested in all historical facts and photos concerning Nether Edge and its surrounding area. The boundaries are flexible and material from Abbeydale, Sharrow, Banner Cross as well as Nether Edge is always of interest.

Norton Lees Local History Group St Paul’s Vestry St Paul’s Church 52 Norton Lees Lane Sheffield Yorkshire S8 9BD UK Website: Norton Lees Local History Group

Penistone History Group St John’s Community Centre Church St Penistone, Sheffield S36 6AR UK Telephone: 01226 762867 Email: [mailto:petermoody@talktalk21.com petermoody@talktalk21.com] Website: Penistone History Group

Pontefract and District Family History Society Micklegate Methodist Church Hall Micklegate Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 1QG UK Email: [mailto:secretary@pontefractfhs.org.uk secretary@pontefractfhs.org.uk] Website: Pontefract and District Family History Society


 * As well as the Parish of Pontefract which includes the Chapelry of Knottingley, the areas of Carleton, East Hardwick and Tanshelf, the Society also covers the ancient parishes of Candleford, Ackworth, Badsworth, Birkin, Brayton, Brotherton, Darrington, Featherstone, Felkirk, Ferry Fryston, Hemsworth, Kellington, Kippax, Kirk Smeaton, Ledsham, Methley, Monk Fryston, Normanton, Sherburn in Elmet, South Kirkby, Womersley, Wragby, and the towns and villages within them.

Ripon Historical Society and Family History Group Workhouse Museum Allhallowgate Ripon Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG4 1LE UK Email: [mailto:RHSInfo@aol.com RHSInfo@aol.com] Website: Ripon Historical Society and Family History Group


 * Founded in 1987, the Ripon Historical Society is actively concerned with all aspects of the City of Ripon and the surrounding area from Masham to South Stainley and from Skelton-on-Ure to Nidderdale.

Roggins Local History Group 11 Fall View Silkstone Barnsley, Yorkshire S75 4LG UK Telephone: 01226 790 695 Email: [mailto:ritchieTJ@aol.com ritchieTJ@aol.com] Website: Roggins Local History Group

Rotherham Archaeology Society 64 Woodfoot Road Moorgate Rotherham, South Yorkshire S60 3DY UK Telephone: 01709 378735 Email: [mailto:admin@rasociety.co.uk admin@rasociety.co.uk] Website: Rotherham Archaeology Society


 * Rotherham Archaeological Society is a voluntary body dedicated to the preservation of Rotherham’s historic buildings and to the investigation and recording of its archaeology and heritage.

Rotherham Family History Society The Liberty Church Station Road Masbrough Rotherham, Yorkshire S60 1JH UK Email: [mailto:brian_allott@msn.com brian_allott@msn.com] Website: Rotherham Family History Society


 * The Society was formed in July 1983 to bring together the Family History Community in Rotherham and the surrounding area. It offers a forum and marketplace, which gives its members the opportunity to meet other like minded people in a friendly atmosphere conducive to the furtherment of their Genealogical interests.

Sheffield & District Family History Society Cemetery Road Baptist Church 11 Napier St Sheffield S11 8HA, UK Email: [mailto:secretary@sheffieldfhs.org.uk secretary@sheffieldfhs.org.uk] Website: Sheffield & District Family History Society


 * We set up nearly 40 years ago for the mutual benefit of people interested in the study of family and local history.

Tickhill and District Local History Society Website: Tickhill and District Local History Society

Yorkshire Archaeological Society Suite 10E Joseph's Well Hanover Way Leeds, Yorkshire LS3 1AB UK Telephone: 0113 245 7910 Email: [mailto:yas.secretary@gmail.com yas.secretary@gmail.com] Website: Yorkshire Archaeological Society


 * The Yorkshire Archaeological & Historical Society was founded in 1863 (as the Huddersfield Archaeological and Topographical Association) to promote interest in the history and archaeology of the Huddersfield area. In 1870 it expanded its interest to cover the whole of Yorkshire, and today it is the main society in this field for the historic county.

Yorkshire Ridings Society Telephone: 07734 079 646 Email: [mailto:admin@yorkshireridings.org admin@yorkshireridings.org] Website: Yorkshire Ridings Society


 * The society has been working for nearly forty years to ensure that the integrity of Yorkshire, its three Ridings and all the associated boundaries is maintained.