01935 429609
Somerset & Dorset
Family History Society
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Welcome to the SDFHS

How can we help you? We will help you to find documented facts about the lives of your former family members which will unlock doors to your own personal family story. Although we do specialise in Somerset and Dorset and have extensive records from our two counties, our experienced Research Volunteers have skills which can help you trace your family roots, regardless of where they might have originated.

SDFHS Family History Centre

Broadway House Family History Centre, our home in Yeovil, is an ideal location in the centre of the town.

Christmas/New Year closure

Our Family History Centre will close for the Christmas/New Year holidays at 4pm on Thursday 21 December 2023 and will reopen at 10am on Thursday 4 January 2024.

Centre Information

Online Talks

Online talks are being hosted by some of our local Groups, giving us the opportunity to engage with our members and the family history community worldwide.

Online Talks

Visit Our Shop

Are you looking for family history publications? Why not try looking in our on-line shop. We have a wide range of books and CDs relating to both Somerset and Dorset, as well as more general family-history and local-history publications.

AGM and Open Day

SDFHS AGM 2024Download

SDFHS Centre
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Latest Blog Posts

The Greenwood Tree – September 2024

The theme of the September issue of The Greenwood Tree is My Favourite Ancestor. EditorPaul Radford previews the edition which will be mailed to members at the end of August and which SDFHS members can already view or download from…..

The Greenwood Tree – June 2024

The theme of the June issue of The Greenwood Tree is Out-of-Counties. Editor Paul Radford previews the edition which will be mailed to members at the end of May and which SDFHS members can already view or download from the…..

The Greenwood Tree – March 2024

The theme of the March issue of The Greenwood Tree is Trades and Professions. Editor Paul Radford previews the edition which will be mailed to members at the end of February and which SDFHS members can already view or download…..

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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

November 4th, 10:16 am

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
The SANHS Archaeology Committee invite you to a talk on"The findings of the Somerton New School Archaeology Excavations"Saturday 9th November 20242pm – 4.15pmLady Smith Hall, Somerton Parish Rooms, Somerton, TA11 7NBRichard Greatorex of Cotswold Archaeology and Damion Da Rosa of Wessex Archaeology will present their findings of the excavations, and there will also be an opportunity to view some of the artefacts.Refreshments will also be served at the end.Cost: £5.00. Booking is advisable via email [email protected] or telephone 01823 272429 before 12 noon on Thursday 7th November.📷 © Cotswold Archaeology ... See MoreSee Less

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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

November 2nd, 11:05 am

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
Occasionally we receive enquiries about ghosts. No, really – we do! While we don’t have a guide on how to research your 👻, we do have a few research guides that may or may not help you if your spook wears post 1830s apparel... 🕷️Our🏠history guide lists sources useful for tracing former occupants of properties, including census returns & electoral registers 👻 somerset-cat.swheritage.org.uk/guides/house Death certificates (from 1837) will record whether someone died at a property as well as the cause of death 👻 somerset-cat.swheritage.org.uk/guides/civil Then there are newspapers which can contain reports on the deceased, such as 'man who arranged the demise of amateur potter’s beloved to cover up financial scam meets grisly end in unfinished apartment' 👻 # somerset-cat.swheritage.org.uk/guides/newspapers And don’t forget our Local Studies Library contains a number of publications on more well-known 👻 👻 in Somerset and the South West! #Halloween library-cat.swheritage.org.uk/home ... See MoreSee Less

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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

October 30th, 9:06 pm

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
Photos from Mendip Hospital Cemetery's post ... See MoreSee Less
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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

October 29th, 6:38 pm

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
Did you know there is a rich history in Bath in the use of Bath's thermal water in the treatment of ailments?Our friends at Bath Medical Museum are working to preserve and promote the history and importance of medicine in the city of Bath. You can visit them at the Hetling Pump Room, located opposite the entrance of Thermae Bath Spa.Learn more about their work here: bathmedicalmuseum.org/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

October 26th, 9:22 am

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
Photos from Shoemakers Museum's post ... See MoreSee Less
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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

October 20th, 9:35 am

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
FindMyPast is offering free access to various record sets during the weekends leading up to Remembrance Sunday. The 1921 census is likely to be a big draw! This article tells you what’s available and when: www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/findmypast-free-records-access-remembrance-day-2024 ... See MoreSee Less

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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

September 28th, 11:36 am

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
We’re part-way through Day 2 of All About That Place! Today’s theme is Health & Medicine - just look at all these inspiring talks! Join the All About That Place Facebook group to watch the talks, enter competitions, keep up with the latest news, & chat to the speakers! #AATP24 ... See MoreSee Less

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Somerset & Dorset Family History Society

September 26th, 4:20 pm

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
All About That Place starts tomorrow! It’s a free online 10-day event organised by The Society of Genealogists, the Society for One Place Studies, British Association for Local History and Genealogy Stories: “Running over 10 days from Friday 27 September to Sunday 6th October, All About That Place is packed with 140 recorded 10-minute talks on genealogy and local history. You'll learn research techniques, social history, tools, websites, archives, record keeping tips, ways of creating and sharing your findings... and much, much more!”You can view the itinerary, read about the speakers, sign up for updates and download a workbook and printable tick-lists of talks adjusted for various time-zones here: www.sog.org.uk/all-about-that-place-2024/ ... See MoreSee Less

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