01935 429609
Somerset & Dorset
Family History Society
Family History Society
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.
Our Family History Centre is at Broadway House, Peter St, Yeovil BA20 1PN. Find out more about how we can help with your research and the facilities we have to offer.
The Society’s Family History Centre in Yeovil is still closed to members and other visitors, but we are very pleased to have reopened our bookshop for online sales and orders by post, only – please do not come to the Centre to buy books.
Our Research Volunteers are still working mainly from home but do now have some access to our resources at the Centre, so if you would like any help with your family history research email: [email protected] and we will do our best to help you.
When we are able to reopen the Centre to visitors, we will inform members by electronic newsletter and will also post the information on our website and on Facebook. If you do not already receive e-newsletters, but would like to do so, please email: [email protected].
Archives Reopening Information
swheritage.org.uk
We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to use the Archives and Local Studies collections and resources. Because of Covid-19 we’re making some changes to the way we operate, including rigorous...The Guild of One-Name Studies has created an “all sorts” online seminar of 5 talks from previous seminars, which everyone (including non-members) can watch anytime over the next 2 weeks, after which it will go behind the members-only paywall. All the talks are by knowledgeable, well-respected speakers. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend David Scrimgeour‘s Early Asylum Life talk in person, and it’s unmissable! Brilliant speaker, fascinating topic. Don’t miss it!
one-name.org
August Allsorts Web Seminar In place of the “Those Who Served” seminar planned for August 2020 (that has now been rescheduled to 23rd October 2021) we have delved into the rich resource of the Gui...This webinar is today at 2pmAs we know many local history events have been hit by the virus, this includes the September Early Dunster Project day, where we had hoped to update you all on the fantastic progress Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Society has made delving into people's roofs and house histories.
However, all is not lost, SANHS are instead planning a virtual September conference and to prepare they are doing a Zoom online event with Dave Dawson on the history of Dunster Kiln on Saturday 1st August at 2pm.
To register go to: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ikx_DjMYSOSuO4-4yhE1wQ
We will be opening the cemetery gates again this Sunday, 2nd August, from 11am until 4pm. Come along and have a stroll round our scenic three acres site with wildflowers, grasses, butterflies and bees (plenty of space for social distancing!) Admission is free but donations to our charity greatly appreciated! Dogs welcome on leads. www.mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk/
I didn’t know that the west front of Wells Cathedral would once have been painted, did you?The West Front of the Cathedral
Many are surprised to discover that Wells Cathedral's West Front would have once been painted in vibrant colours. Traces of paint have been identified on the original masonry.
The sculptures on the west front at Wells include standing figures, seated figures, half-length angels and narratives in high relief. Many of the figures are life-sized or larger. Together they constitute the finest display of medieval carving in England. The figures and many of the architectural details were painted in bright colours, and the colouring scheme has been deduced from flakes of paint still adhering to some surfaces.
Picture: Museum collection
"Strive To Excel", 1781
This sampler was created in 1781 by Mary Lucas, and includes a wonderful poem. The rhyme is certainly of its age: "Go on my dear, strive to excel / Improve in work and reading well / For book and needle both contend / To mak[e] a housewife and a friend."
The Samplers Room presents a selection of the museum's collection of over 120 samplers including “Strive to Excel”. Samplers date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Most of these were donated by the late Eveleen Perkins in her will.
3.1 Bridgwater & The River Parrett
3.1 Bridgwater & The River Parrett
youtu.be
In this video we have a brief look at the problems the Parrett presents for ships trying to get to the sea. For an article on the River Danube floodplain, se...Dorset writer Roger Guttridge will be making his second appearance on BBC1’s award-winning Murder, Mystery and My Family on August 6, when series four re-examines the tragic case of Martha Brown.
Martha was the last woman to be publicly hanged in Dorchester after murdering her husband John Brown at Birdsmoorgate, near Broadwindsor, in 1856.
A 16-year-old Thomas Hardy was among the 3,000 who watched the execution and was undoubtedly affected by the experience.
It is thought to have influenced his decision to have his Marnhull-born heroine Tess Durbeyfield executed in Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
‘The Hardy connection is one of the things I’ll be talking about along with the trial itself and whether Martha had a raw deal given what she’d had to put up with from her husband,’ says Roger, who was brought up at Sturminster Newton.
Roger and novelist Rosemary Ellerbeck, who also lived at Stur for many years, appeared together in an earlier programme on Martha, screened by HTV 20 years ago.
Under her main pen-name Nicola Thorne, Rosemary also wrote My Name is Martha Brown, a novel based on the story.
Roger also appeared on the very first Murder, Mystery programme in 2018, which re-examined Charlotte Bryant’s murder of husband Fred at Sherborne, and will also feature in series five, to be screened later this year.
Series four starts on Monday July 27 and the Martha Brown episode will be screened at 10am on Thursday August 6.
In 2018, the Society published Secure the shadow – Somerset photographers 1839–1939, available in our online shop, but that was not the end of the project for the book's three authors, who have continued their research. They have updated the timelines or biographies of the photographers, which were originally published on a disk accompanying the book, and have been able to identify an additional sixteen photographers. A new post on the Society's blog gives full details with a link to download an updated biographies' list.
Update to Secure the Shadow | Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
sdfhs.org
Following publication in 2018 of the book Secure the shadow – Somerset photographers 1839 – 1939, the authors have continued their research on the photographers who were working in Somerset during...Somerset Heritage Centre will reopen to the public on Tuesday 4 August. Further information about booking will be available on their website from Tuesday 28 July. Please don’t contact them before this date as they will only be able to process bookings from 28 July onwards
swheritage.org.uk
The Somerset Heritage Centre is temporarily closed – we look forward to welcoming you when we reopen More updates & information, including Research Enquiries Introduction Somerset Heritage Centre pr...Don’t forget your mask if you’re visiting @SomHeritage! When we visited on Wednesday, all researchers were wearing masks. Let’s keep each other safe! 😷
From today, anyone visiting us is required to wear a face covering. If you're planning a visit to the Somerset Heritage Centre, don't forget your mask or suitable face covering 😷! Everything you need to know before your visit can be found on our website https://swheritage.org.uk/archives-reopening-information/
The plague is raging... in Wells. Another chance to read this riveting account of the plague that raged in Wells, Somerset, during the years 1624-1627 https://www.sdnq.org.uk/sdnq-news/the-plague-is-raging-in-wells/
There's lots to read on the SDNQ website, with both our Dorset & Somerset editors busy writing articles for your delight & delectation https://www.sdnq.org.uk/sdnq-news/the-history-of-notes-queries/
