Internet Resources for Family History Research
There is a vast amount of information on the internet, so this is just a “starter for 10” on the sites most useful to family history research. We have broken the list down into categories, so that it is easier to navigate.
Even if you think that none of your ancestors are famous, it is worth looking in our national archives as these contain plenty of records of ordinary people and places.
This is a list of County Archives near to Worcestershire because over the years boundaries have changed. All these archives are open to the public but the opening hours vary markedly, so please check on the website for the archive you wish to visit that they will be open when you get there.
Gloucestershire Archives
Herefordshire Archives
Powys Archives
Shropshire Archives
Warwickshire Record Office
Worcestershire Archives
This is a list of the societies local to Worcestershire.
Coventry Family History Society
Forest of Dean Family History Trust
Gloucestershire Family History Society
Powys Family History Society
Herefordshire Family History Society
Midland Ancestors This society covers much of the West Midlands area with local area groups under a wider umbrella organisation.
Shropshire Family History Society
South Warwickshire Family History Society
In addition there is the Federation of Family History Societies
As well as societies specialising in family history, there are a number of other local groups which may be worth investigating.
Worcestershire Local History Forum
Forest of Dean Local History Society
Kidderminster Family History Facebook Group
The Birtsmorton, Castlemorton and Hollybush Archive
Our members, Angus and Rosemary McCollough, also have a website where they have collated memories of Malvern.
For Barnards Green, some of the history is also on the Wedderburn Road website.
These are collections of genealogical data that are free to access.
These sites normally require you to take out a subscription of some form. They may have different levels which control what you can access.
FHSonline – Worcestershire records are free to members of MFHS
If you do find anything that you think we ought to include in the list, please get in touch.
You can also look in the Standbrook local guide to see if there are any other societies you would like to attend.
Researching Your Family’s Military History
Many people want to know about the part that their ancestors played in the military. To assist this we have provided link to some websites that may be of use. The websites are a mixture of those where you can find records, others that have information on military history and some of the military museums around the country.
Army, Navy and RFC/RAF service records are mainly held at the National Archives. RFC/RAF information are also available from the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon.
If you are looking for graves then try the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
There are often articles in newspapers, so you can try the online collections of these available from the British Library. You can also read these collections with a subscription to FindMyPast.
Other useful website include:
- The Western Front Association
- The Long Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War
- University of Birmingham Centre for First World War Studies
The Imperial War Museum have a project ongoing to collect stories and information from families about their involvement in the First World War. You can look at this site at the IWM here.
Museum of Military Medicine is based at Aldershot in Hampshire.
The National Army Museum in Chelsea, London has lots of events on.
The Tank Museum is based at Bovington in Dorset.
Travelling abroad there is the Bastogne Warm Museum in the Ardennes dedicated to the Second World War.
