English Civil War in Cheshire
Tony Bryan author of new novel 'King and Country', Lord John Byron's war in Cheshire. that will be available from April 2026, is doing to do a talk on the Civil War in Cheshire
Research Centre Open
The Brierley Business Centre is situated on Mirion Street, with free on-site parking and some disabled parking spaces. The Research Centre occupies Units 3 and 4 on the ground floor. Press the doorbell button for FHSC on the left-hand side of the main entrance doorway, one of our volunteers will come to the door and let you in, or you may be simply 'buzzed' in.
FREE access to Ancestry, FindMyPast, British Newspaper Archive and The Genealogist
An extensive library of books and the Crewe Collection (formerly Crewe and District Local History Archives)
We would normally ask that you book if you are travelling any distance so that we can be sure that you have the equipment, resources and volunteer available to you. Please contact Margaret Spate with requests for either day on adding "Research Centre" in the subject line.
For full details of our holdings, please see the Crewe Research Centre Library Holdings lists in the Public Library.
We look forward to welcoming both current and new members to the Crewe Research Centre, not forgetting any new volunteers.
Research Centre Open
The Brierley Business Centre is situated on Mirion Street, with free on-site parking and some disabled parking spaces. The Research Centre occupies Units 3 and 4 on the ground floor. Press the doorbell button for FHSC on the left-hand side of the main entrance doorway, one of our volunteers will come to the door and let you in, or you may be simply 'buzzed' in.
FREE access to Ancestry, FindMyPast, British Newspaper Archive and The Genealogist
An extensive library of books and the Crewe Collection (formerly Crewe and District Local History Archives)
We would normally ask that you book if you are travelling any distance so that we can be sure that you have the equipment, resources and volunteer available to you. Please contact Margaret Spate with requests for either day on adding "Research Centre" in the subject line.
For full details of our holdings, please see the Crewe Research Centre Library Holdings lists in the Public Library.
We look forward to welcoming both current and new members to the Crewe Research Centre, not forgetting any new volunteers.
FHSC Seminars: Fact from Fiction: what the great 19th century novels can tell us about our ancestors? with David Annal
Family History Through the Eyes of Great Novelists! Have you ever wondered what the great novelists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries can teach us about our ancestors?
Join us as Dave Annal takes a fascinating exploration of family history hidden within the pages of some of Britain's best-loved novels. Drawing on the works of authors including Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, Emily Brontë, and Wilkie Collins, Dave reveals how fiction can provide remarkable insights into the lives, experiences, and challenges faced by our ancestors. Using extracts covering subjects such as family relationships, birth, baptism, marriage, work, education, travel, and family research, Dave demonstrates how novelists can help us understand the social realities behind the records we use every day. Along the way, we encounter family trees, agricultural labourers, Victorian city streets, and even a Dickens character who could be described as one of the earliest family historians.
The talk concludes with a piece of advice from Great Expectations that every genealogist should remember: "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There is no better rule." Whether you are a lover of classic literature, an enthusiastic family historian, or simply curious about how fiction can illuminate the past, this promises to be a thought-provoking and enjoyable presentation.
This event is also open to non-members, with fee of £5. Registration opens on 1st November when the red ‘Register [Individual]’ button will show on the top left of this page, just click on that button, you will also receive an email confirmation. Non-members will be required to create a free FHSC account and complete the payment details. Registration will close on 16th November.
The zoom links/meeting protocol will be forwarded to all registrants the day before the talk.
If you run into any difficulties with this, then please contact us on the dedicated seminar email address – The Seminar series is co-ordinated by Margaret Spate, Jean Laidlaw and Margaret Roberts and ALL correspondence, queries etc should be sent to the dedicated email address.
PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT RECORD SEMINAR TALKS
Family Historian
The Family Historian Users Group provides support and tips for using Family Historian software. Led by Peter Rowley members are welcome to chat about their experiences of using the software and to discuss any problems etc that other members of the group may be able to help out with
Research Centre Open
The Brierley Business Centre is situated on Mirion Street, with free on-site parking and some disabled parking spaces. The Research Centre occupies Units 3 and 4 on the ground floor. Press the doorbell button for FHSC on the left-hand side of the main entrance doorway, one of our volunteers will come to the door and let you in, or you may be simply 'buzzed' in.
FREE access to Ancestry, FindMyPast, British Newspaper Archive and The Genealogist
An extensive library of books and the Crewe Collection (formerly Crewe and District Local History Archives)
We would normally ask that you book if you are travelling any distance so that we can be sure that you have the equipment, resources and volunteer available to you. Please contact Margaret Spate with requests for either day on adding "Research Centre" in the subject line.
For full details of our holdings, please see the Crewe Research Centre Library Holdings lists in the Public Library.
We look forward to welcoming both current and new members to the Crewe Research Centre, not forgetting any new volunteers.
Publishing your Family History Research
Publishing your Family History Research Group, covers all aspects of publishing your research, whether you are considering writing a book, creating a website or blog, submitting an article to the Cheshire Ancestor, recording a podcast etc, then this group is the ideal place to discuss your ideas and concerns. Led by Victoria Doran, the group meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 2:30pm, with a break for the Summer.
DNA
The DNA Group focuses on the growing role of genetic testing in genealogy, allowing participants to exchange results, tips, and advice on interpreting DNA data.
The Group, led by Diane Kuster, meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30pm.