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December 5, 2023

Hannah More – a fresh look – online talk

Please note change of venue for this talk – due to technical difficulties, it has been moved online and will not be at BAWA. Next Monday’s Bristol Group meeting is by John Page – “Hannah More and her Mendip schools: a fresh look at this subject”. Numerous books have been written about Hannah More and her life, but most of what is known about her charitable activities and schools around Mendip has been taken from information sourced from Hannah and her sister Martha. This fresh interpretation uses local sources (mainly from Cheddar) to offer a somewhat different view of events. The talk is online and begins at 7.30pm and is available to members only (joining details sent by email).
November 21, 2023

Keeping your family history records – digitally and online

Join us next Monday for the Bath Group meeting. Mike Slucutt, who many of you will know from our Research Room will be talking about the benefits of keeping your family history records and notes in a digital form rather than on paper. Mike’s talk is online and begins at 7.30pm and is available to members only (joining details sent by email). If you are not a member you can join BAFHS. Just visit https://bafhs.org.uk/support/join and enjoy this and many other talks and benefits of being a member.
November 8, 2023

Find out more about Thankful Villages

Join us next Monday (13th November) for our Bristol Group meeting and talk entitled “Thankful? Villages of Somerset and Gloucestershire with no recorded war dead” by Steve Osman. Steve Osman is Secretary of Wrington Local History Society. Thankful Villages are those with no recorded war dead in 1914, also know as Blessed Villages and settlements from which all their members of the armed forces survived WW1. This is a hybrid event – both in-person (all welcome) and online (members only). Thankful Villages event
October 24, 2023

Behind the scenes of “Who Do You Think You Are?”

We are delighted to be welcoming Nick Barratt for our Bath Group meeting on Monday 30th October for his talk entitled “Family History and the Media: behind the scenes of Who Do You Think You Are?” In this talk, Nick explores the origins behind the show, with stories and case studies that reveal how the research was undertaken, the challenges faced along the way, and the wider impact that the show has had on the way a mainstream audience perceives genealogy. The talk is online only and begins at 7.30pm – joining details will be sent to members in advance. We look forward to seeing you!

Where your journey begins...
What will you discover?

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.