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The SDFHS Blog

Our former home in Sherborne transformed

Posted on 6th May 2019

The base for the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society was in Sherborne for nearly twenty years until the recent successful move to Yeovil Many a visitor will have climbed up the stairs of our last home in Sherborne, to our Research Centre and meeting room, housed in the building at the bottom of Cheap Street, right next to the Conduit There was much evidence of its former life, with old fireplaces, interesting windows and much else besides often partly hidden by the necessary... more

Open Day at Herrison Hospital, Dorchester

Posted on 10th April 2019

On Sunday, 7 April 2019 the doors of Herrison Hall were thrown open to anyone with an interest in the old Herrison Hospital in Dorchester and before the exhibition was officially opened every space in the car park was taken as people seemed to be heading for the hall from all directions We had to park some distance away and as we walked we met up with a man who was excitedly returning as he told us he had started work in the kitchen, many years ago, on leaving school Many came with items... more

The Greenwood Tree – March 2019

Posted on 22nd February 2019

The growing importance of DNA in family history is highlighted in the March edition of The Greenwood Tree which will be mailed to members at the end of February Editor Paul Radford previews the edition, which SDFHS members can already view or download from the Members’ Area of the Society’s website The front cover colour image shows the 23 inherited chromosomes in each cell of the human body, the building blocks of life Inside are two main stories featuring the DNA theme The first is a... more

Christmas Carol Service Train

Posted on 22nd December 2018

Many of the trappings of our ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations had their origins in the Victorian period which also saw the establishment and growth of the railway, so it is not perhaps surprising that festively decorated trains feature on a fair number of vintage Christmas cards Today many railway lines, especially those run by local enthusiasts, have ‘Santa Specials’ where the great man joins excited children for a train ride, often pulled by a steam engine In Sherborne we can... more

The Greenwood Tree – December 2018

Posted on 27th November 2018

Remembrance is highlighted in the December edition of The Greenwood Tree, the first since the remarkable centenary ceremonies in November which marked the 1918 Armistice September’s World War One Special Edition was largely dominated by family history stories of the conflict and the December issue, which will be mailed to members at the end of November, echoes some of those themes Editor, Paul Radford, previews the edition, which SDFHS members can already view or download from the Members’... more

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