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March 5, 2022

All Our Yesterdays

For anyone interested in memories of Downend, Mangotsfield and Staple Hill, we have just added this title to our Webshop. It’s compiled by Downend Local History Group and costs £5.
February 11, 2022

Have you got “Average Ancestors”?

Did you know that many of our ancestors left around 100 records? At our monthly event next Monday 14th February, Ian Waller will be telling us how this can help our research, where they can be found and what we can find. This is a Zoom event so is only open to members. Find out more about joining the Society to access this and other events.
February 9, 2022

Want to know more about Irish research?

The latest “Really Useful Bulletin” from the Family History Federation, features an introduction to Irish research by Chris Paton as well as plenty of news and events from other local family history societies around the country. It can be accessed by members from the Membership Dashboard.
January 24, 2022

New book on Shirehampton now available

The Society has added a new book to the webshop, “Shirehampton sketches: people, places, buildings, times” by Richard Coates. Shirehampton is a place of great and varied interest, both historical and modern, including Avonmouth, one of the most important middle-sized ports and specialised industrial zones in England, The book deals with the many different aspects of life and history in the Shire area, some well known, many tantalizingly hidden in plain sight, with much on historic local people, buildings and other features that you can see today when you visit the area. Richard Coates has lived in Shirehampton since 2006, working as a researcher and teacher in language, place-names and surnames at the University of the West of England.      His other book, which we also stock, is about the local history of another part of our area “Places, Names and History in North-West Bristol” – both books are highly recommended.

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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.