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The SDFHS Blog

Emigration from the West Country

Posted on 11th May 2018

It is now twenty years since the successful ‘Dorset and the New World’ event took place in Lyme Regis in June 1998 when more than 250 people attended, including a group of Americans from the Mary & John Clearing House who happened to be in the area at that time The Mary and John was the ship that sailed to Dorchester, Mass in 1630 carrying settlers from Dorset, Devon and Somerset The voyage was arranged by the Rev John White, the vicar of St Peters, Dorchester The speakers in... more

The Greenwood Tree – March 2018

Posted on 20th February 2018

Paul Radford, the new Editor of the SDFHS journal, The Greenwood Tree, previews the contents of the March issue which is now being printed The first issue of the year of The Greenwood Tree marks a new era for the Society with the transfer of our headquarters from the centre of Sherborne to Broadway House in Yeovil By sheer coincidence, my first task as the new editor of The Greenwood Tree is to bring you the story of the move and what it means for members and for the Society The change had to... more

Family Tree Maker and the Ancestry App

Posted on 16th February 2018

It was two years ago in February 2016 that I wrote my first blog while trying to understand what was going on between Ancestry and the software Family Tree Maker that I had been using successfully on my desktop computer for some years I am one of those who uses a program on a computer without any idea about what is going on behind the scenes to keep that software up-to-date and working properly Added to this I had discovered the joys of carrying around with me, on an iPad, my family tree so... more

Britain’s Post War Homes

Posted on 3rd February 2018

Did you enjoy the recent BBC2 programme 'A House Through Time' In the last episode Deborah Sugg Ryan showed the Book of Britain's Post-War Homes and this sent me scurrying upstairs as I have a copy of this book tucked away I found it in my grandfather's house when it had to be cleared in 1974 and I think my father, who was associated with the building trade, probably gave it to my grandfather when he was involved with the building of Nether Compton's first council houses in the late... more

Broadway House Family History Centre – Peter Street

Posted on 7th January 2018

As we return to 'business as usual' in our brand new, to us, Broadway House Family History Centre in Yeovil, we would like to mark the occasion with a piece on some aspects of the history of the street on which Broadway House is situated This has been brought to us by Bob Osborn, the instigator and sole contributor to the remarkable website An A-Z of Yeovil's History We would like to thank Bob for his timely contribution and for permission to include a selection of photographs The draper and... more

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