West Middlesex Family History Society
@westmiddlesexfh.bsky.social
We encourage and assist the study of family and local history in the western part of the ancient English county of Middlesex. Advice, monthly talks (available on Zoom) - www.west-middlesex-fhs.org.uk for all our activities!
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
#AncientSiteSunday with Cefn-y-Castell just inside the Welsh border but with incredible views of Shropshire, the Wrekin in the far distance
An easygoing watch for your sunday morning, check out our chat with Dr Toby Driver about all things Hillforts & Wales
>>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvyY...
An easygoing watch for your sunday morning, check out our chat with Dr Toby Driver about all things Hillforts & Wales
>>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvyY...
January 18, 2026 at 8:10 AM
#AncientSiteSunday with Cefn-y-Castell just inside the Welsh border but with incredible views of Shropshire, the Wrekin in the far distance
An easygoing watch for your sunday morning, check out our chat with Dr Toby Driver about all things Hillforts & Wales
>>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvyY...
An easygoing watch for your sunday morning, check out our chat with Dr Toby Driver about all things Hillforts & Wales
>>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvyY...
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
What's in a name? In Brighouse just down the road from me you have Rydings for the park, library, and art gallery (The Rydings) and a doctors surgery in the town - Rydings Hall Surgery. The older, historic name for a nearby terrace might appear as either Rhyding or Ryding
January 16, 2026 at 1:48 PM
What's in a name? In Brighouse just down the road from me you have Rydings for the park, library, and art gallery (The Rydings) and a doctors surgery in the town - Rydings Hall Surgery. The older, historic name for a nearby terrace might appear as either Rhyding or Ryding
Thankyou from all our members for a really great talk!
January 16, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Thankyou from all our members for a really great talk!
Or maybe he sank into an underground sea and drifted along to Loch Ness?
January 16, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Or maybe he sank into an underground sea and drifted along to Loch Ness?
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
On tomorrow's date 17 January in Todmorden in 1784 John Fielden was born. The mill owner and radical British reformer became a notable proponent of legislation protecting the welfare of factory workers. Influenced by his experiences in his father's mill, John developed a strong
January 16, 2026 at 5:33 AM
On tomorrow's date 17 January in Todmorden in 1784 John Fielden was born. The mill owner and radical British reformer became a notable proponent of legislation protecting the welfare of factory workers. Influenced by his experiences in his father's mill, John developed a strong
I can barely get a screw in straight but I do love industrial engineering history!
January 16, 2026 at 11:57 AM
I can barely get a screw in straight but I do love industrial engineering history!
I do wonder where the rest of him is!
January 16, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I do wonder where the rest of him is!
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
Discovered in a bog near Hawick in the south of Scotland in 1820, this larger-than-life bronze leg once belonged to a Roman statue of an emperor or general on horseback. #FindsFriday
January 16, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Discovered in a bog near Hawick in the south of Scotland in 1820, this larger-than-life bronze leg once belonged to a Roman statue of an emperor or general on horseback. #FindsFriday
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
On #InternationalHotAndSpicyFoodDay join these Derby ladies in their community kitchen, busy preparing food to celebrate the "300th Anniversary of the Sikh Nation" in 1999. Food is part of the spiritual life of every Sikh community and it tastes delicious too!
#PhotoFriday #1990s
#PhotoFriday #1990s
January 16, 2026 at 11:20 AM
On #InternationalHotAndSpicyFoodDay join these Derby ladies in their community kitchen, busy preparing food to celebrate the "300th Anniversary of the Sikh Nation" in 1999. Food is part of the spiritual life of every Sikh community and it tastes delicious too!
#PhotoFriday #1990s
#PhotoFriday #1990s
Tickets for the 45th #WestLondonLocalHistoryConference are now on sale at #Ticketsource. The 2026 theme is Shopping Is Never Done:West London High Streets Down the Decades.
January 16, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Tickets for the 45th #WestLondonLocalHistoryConference are now on sale at #Ticketsource. The 2026 theme is Shopping Is Never Done:West London High Streets Down the Decades.
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
Do you recognise any of these views of Reading? They were taken from the top of a water tower in Mill Lane over 100 years ago and show landmarks still identifiable today.
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
January 16, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Do you recognise any of these views of Reading? They were taken from the top of a water tower in Mill Lane over 100 years ago and show landmarks still identifiable today.
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
. @fhsofcheshire.bsky.social's #FridayRoundUp
January update from #FamilySearch, with over 168 million new records from 35 different countries
Link to blog for full details 👉
www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-...
January update from #FamilySearch, with over 168 million new records from 35 different countries
Link to blog for full details 👉
www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-...
New Records on FamilySearch January 2026 • FamilySearch
FamilySearch adds millions of free historical records every month. See new records from the Philippines, Sweden, and more.
www.familysearch.org
January 16, 2026 at 8:57 AM
. @fhsofcheshire.bsky.social's #FridayRoundUp
January update from #FamilySearch, with over 168 million new records from 35 different countries
Link to blog for full details 👉
www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-...
January update from #FamilySearch, with over 168 million new records from 35 different countries
Link to blog for full details 👉
www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-...
Using Social Media for Family History - that’s the title for January’s #WestMiddlesexFHS talk by #Kelly Cornwall. Come and join us on Thurs 15 Jan.Doors open 7.30pm , talk to start at 7.45pm. Check the website for full details. Book early to avoid disappointment!
a man in a suit and tie is behind bars with the words never underestimate the power of social media
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is behind bars with the words never underestimate the power of social media
media.tenor.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Using Social Media for Family History - that’s the title for January’s #WestMiddlesexFHS talk by #Kelly Cornwall. Come and join us on Thurs 15 Jan.Doors open 7.30pm , talk to start at 7.45pm. Check the website for full details. Book early to avoid disappointment!
A quick-thinking lady! In my tree there is a lady who married and widowed twice, had a child by each husband and then went on to have a further 8 children out of wedlock. Not a hint of reproach from the vicar who baptised them all! I don’t think she ever applied for parish relief either!
January 11, 2026 at 1:54 PM
A quick-thinking lady! In my tree there is a lady who married and widowed twice, had a child by each husband and then went on to have a further 8 children out of wedlock. Not a hint of reproach from the vicar who baptised them all! I don’t think she ever applied for parish relief either!
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
MH 12 Poor Law Board correspondence in some places has been deep catalogued with lots of detail 😺 If in local parish chest stuff pre 1834 check out Overseers of the Poor accounts for midwife costs for named individuals ditto Parish Constables accounts for taking to magistrate or removals #clues
January 11, 2026 at 12:22 PM
MH 12 Poor Law Board correspondence in some places has been deep catalogued with lots of detail 😺 If in local parish chest stuff pre 1834 check out Overseers of the Poor accounts for midwife costs for named individuals ditto Parish Constables accounts for taking to magistrate or removals #clues
And when the child died, they didn’t need to pay her anything!
January 11, 2026 at 11:42 AM
And when the child died, they didn’t need to pay her anything!
In 1842 outdoor relief was supposed to end. But I found a case where the Guardians said it was cheaper to allow outdoor relief to a widow with 3 legitimate children and 1 illegitimate child because she worked. If they had denied outdoor relief, the whole family would have had to enter the workhouse
January 11, 2026 at 11:40 AM
In 1842 outdoor relief was supposed to end. But I found a case where the Guardians said it was cheaper to allow outdoor relief to a widow with 3 legitimate children and 1 illegitimate child because she worked. If they had denied outdoor relief, the whole family would have had to enter the workhouse
If you are near enough to visit #theNationalArchives and are looking for cases of parish support, try the Poor Law Commissioners Correspondence volumes. They hold a world of information! The switchover from #OldPoorLaw to #NewPoorLaw caused a lot of confusion.1/
January 11, 2026 at 11:35 AM
If you are near enough to visit #theNationalArchives and are looking for cases of parish support, try the Poor Law Commissioners Correspondence volumes. They hold a world of information! The switchover from #OldPoorLaw to #NewPoorLaw caused a lot of confusion.1/
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
Most bastardy records form part of the parish chest collections held in local record offices although some examinations can be located in the court rolls or minutes of the local Quarter Sessions. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #TopTip www.exploreyourgenealogy.co.uk/illegitimate...
January 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Most bastardy records form part of the parish chest collections held in local record offices although some examinations can be located in the court rolls or minutes of the local Quarter Sessions. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #TopTip www.exploreyourgenealogy.co.uk/illegitimate...
Perfect for a bad-hair day and just think of all the things you could secrete under it! Like a historical handbag that left your hands-free.
January 10, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Perfect for a bad-hair day and just think of all the things you could secrete under it! Like a historical handbag that left your hands-free.
Sounds like one branch of my husband’s family. If they weren’t actors, they were gymnasts and cyclists( trick cyclists, I presume!).
January 6, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Sounds like one branch of my husband’s family. If they weren’t actors, they were gymnasts and cyclists( trick cyclists, I presume!).
How far “outside” the family do you go in your research? The other day I found myself researching the stepmother of the father of the first husband of the first wife of my great great aunt’s husband. I don’t know if my brain will ever recover….
a woman is sitting at a desk holding a clipboard and saying `` let 's explore that ! ``
ALT: a woman is sitting at a desk holding a clipboard and saying `` let 's explore that ! ``
media.tenor.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:19 AM
How far “outside” the family do you go in your research? The other day I found myself researching the stepmother of the father of the first husband of the first wife of my great great aunt’s husband. I don’t know if my brain will ever recover….
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
For our first #ThoughtfulTuesday of 2026, we're reminding you to be patient and persistent. Local history research takes time, with some sources being missing or incomplete. However, unexpected discoveries often happen when you least expect it!
#WeAreLocalHistory
#WeAreLocalHistory
January 6, 2026 at 7:01 AM
For our first #ThoughtfulTuesday of 2026, we're reminding you to be patient and persistent. Local history research takes time, with some sources being missing or incomplete. However, unexpected discoveries often happen when you least expect it!
#WeAreLocalHistory
#WeAreLocalHistory
Reposted by West Middlesex Family History Society
2024 has been added to the GRO indexes online!
January 5, 2026 at 6:41 PM
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MARCH 2026: Don't miss my online #RootsTech talk on Searching for Latin American #Genealogy on FamilySearch.org! Sign up for free (or register for the in-person conference): rootstech.org
September 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
MARCH 2026: Don't miss my online #RootsTech talk on Searching for Latin American #Genealogy on FamilySearch.org! Sign up for free (or register for the in-person conference): rootstech.org