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Research Room
Meetings & Events
March 4, 2025

Discover Bristol Archives

We invite you to join us for the March Bristol group meeting when Lucy Bonner, one of Bristol’s archivists, will be giving an illustrated talk about the collections held at Bristol Archives and the processes behind making them available to the public. The meeting is next Monday 10 March at 7.30pm by Zoom – joining instructions will be sent to members by email.
February 20, 2025

This Saturday – Ridgeway Park Cemetery Working Party

Join us at Ridgeway Park Cemetery (on Fishponds Road, in the North-East part of Bristol) this Saturday, 22 February from 11am to 1pm. We are back to clearing graves and cutting grass around graves so please bring trowels and shears with you if possible. Parking is available and there is a cafe and toilets nearby. Contact Clare Hayward (secretary@bafhs.org.uk) for further information. Please bring your own tools and a drink if required.
February 18, 2025

Turning an OS Map into History

We invite you to join us next Monday (24th) for the February Bath Group meeting when Giles Darkes will talk about the general processes that the Historic Towns Trust goes through, using Bath as an example of a project, to create one of its town and city historic maps. Giles will cover how the Trust assembles the map and, as with all historical mapping, some of the issues that go with it. The talk is online and begins at 7.30pm and is available to members only (joining details sent by email).

Family history for Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

About BAFHS

Founded in 1975, we are a well established Family History Society focussing our activities on Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (the former county of Avon 1974 to 1996) and its constituent predecessor and successor counties. We are also frequently referred to by our initials - BAFHS. The hub of our activities is our Research Room where enthusiastic volunteers give their time for the benefit of the Society.

What we do:

  • Encourage the public study of family history with reference to the historic county of Avon and its successor counties.
  • Publish a quarterly Members' Magazine (available in digital or paper format).
  • Transcribe and publish source material of interest to family historians.
  • Hold regular in-person and online meetings with a programme of illustrated talks and lectures.
  • Operate a Research Room where advice and resources are freely available.
  • Operate this website which is dedicated to family history.
  • Organise outings to places of interest.

Members:

Members are at the heart of our Society. By becoming a member, you will be joining a like-minded group of people who support our work. There is also the opportunity to become actively involved with a wide range of activities - you'd be surprised what it takes to run a modern family history society. It is quick and convenient to join online.