Local and family history links

Here are some links to local sites that cover some of the local history of other Bath and nearby villages and family history in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire.

If you know of any other local or family history orientated sites for Bath and its villages, or nearby towns and villages, that should be added to this list, then please let me know.

Local History  
Combe Down Heritage Society – celebrating and preserving Combe Down’s heritage. CDHS aims to foster an interest in Combe Down’s past, record and interpret its history and keep an archive of all heritage information, make the heritage accessible to residents and visitors and to communicate its work widely, involve young people and support and encourage all sources of education. Combe Down Heritage Society Facebook page
Museum of Bath Stone – discover the stories of Combe Down Stone, the material from which the Georgian City of Bath was built and Ralph Allen, the man behind the enterprise. Both are brought to life in the Museum of Bath Stone, a dedicated, vibrant community hub and information centre on the site where it all began.
Combe Down Facebook pages:
Prior to Now
Combe Down
Prior Park
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Friends of Bath Jewish Burial Ground
Combe Down Tunnel
Tucking Mill
To celebrate the Millennium, the Monkton Combe branch of the Women’s Institute decided to compile a book celebrating the last 100 years of the village.
The more interesting aspects of Widcombe’s history compiled by members of the Widcombe & Lyncombe Local History Society with help from the archivists at Bath Record Office and Library, and from books about the area and other sources.
The heritage of South Stoke.
Bear Flat History Group a local history website, dedicated to researching the history of Bear Flat and its environs.
The Bathford Society your access point to historical information for the parish of Bathford including census data, maps, photos and the current programme of talks.
Bathampton Village Local resources, education, history for Bathampton.
Larkhall History Society. A recently formed society (2008), that meets monthly, to find out more about the place we live in. Larkhall is on the outskirts of Bath, yet despite being just two miles from the centre of Bath, it still has a village feel and lots of history.
East Twerton & Oldfield Park History Society. Preserving the history of a Victorian suburb of Bath.
Englishcombe – portrait of a very English parish – including Haycombe, Inglesbatch, Kilkenny, Nailwell, Padleigh and Barrow Hamlet
Box People and Places. A not-for-profit Community website for people who are interested in the history of Box village, in the county of Wiltshire, and its surrounding hamlets.
Freshford, Bradford on Avon, Limpley Stoke, Hinton Charterhouse Web Site. Welcome to the web sites for the history of Charmouth, Freshford Bradford on Avon, Bath, Limpley Stoke & Hinton Charterhouse.
Hinton Charterhouse Village website – Local History. Much of the village history ties in with the former Carthusian Priory dating from 1232. The priory was founded in 1232 by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, who also founded Lacock Abbey.
Freshford and District Local History Society. Meetings are held in the Freshford Memorial Hall on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society. The Society was formed in 1965 as a non-profit making voluntary organisation concerned with researching and recording the history of the Keynsham and Saltford area. Since 1965 the Society has amassed a large archive of photographs, documents, maps and transcripts from primary sources and newspaper articles.
Timsbury community website. Timsbury has a long and varied history dating from occupation in the Bronze Age. These pages will help you to find out more about Timsbury’s history, use sources such as the census, directories and maps to carry out your own research, and locate further information and sources on-line or in libraries and record offices.
Rudloe Scene. Rudloe and environs website. News, articles and photos of an area that straddles the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in north-west Wiltshire.
Bath and Counties Archaeological Society. The Bath & Counties Archaeological Society (BACAS) was formed in 1949 by the late Bill Wedlake. Initially called the Camerton Excavation Club the first President was Ethelbert Horne, F.S.A., the Prior of Downside Abbey. His successor was Sir Mortimer Wheeler. The Society has led or been involved in many exploratory and training excavations and has had an important role in the preservation of historic sites and antiquities in Bath and the surrounding area. Notable excavations include those at Camerton in Somerset and Nettleton in Wiltshire.
The Frome Society for Local Study. Founded in 1958 by a number of townspeople who realised there was a need to make the history of Frome and the district better known, and to preserve its historic buildings and records.
Bitton Parish History Group. One of our main aims is to preserve and make accessible our rich local history. We are please to have your contributions to the site on articles about Bitton, North Common, Oldland Common, Swineford, Upton Cheyney, Beach and Willsbridge.
Brislington Conservation and History Society. The Society holds regular meetings in local venues, holds exhibitions, and assists with enquiries about Brislington and family connections. Members receive a regular newsletter. Talks on Brislington and its history are given to interested groups, illustrated with photographs from our extensive collection and we are also happy to support other bodies with associated interests.
History of Bath Research Group. The History of Bath Research Group was founded in 1986 with the objective of bringing together historians who were actively engaged in research in the Bath area. Members have a passion for Bath and its heritage and many members are actively engaged in researching some aspect of the history of Bath. Many of the members have published on different aspects of local history (including studies in the Journal Bath History) and have given papers at meetings or contributed in other ways.
Family History  
SDFHS, Somerset and Dorset family history society. The Somerset & Dorset Family History Society was founded in 1975 and helps people to research their family history, especially those with ancestors in the two counties. The Society’s Family History Centre is in Sherborne, Dorset and includes an excellent local and family history library.
The site for Family Historians in Wiltshire. The Society’s aim is to encourage the study of family history, including both Wiltshire ancestry of people world-wide and world-wide ancestry of Wiltshire residents.
Federation of Family History Societies. The Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) is an educational charity supporting, informing and advising its membership, which consists of family history societies and similar bodies across the world.
Society for One-Place Studies. There are many individuals, societies and groups across the globe researching the people of a community within the context of the place they live. The vision of this Society is to bring together those like-minded people and provide a platform for members to share good practice, ideas and methodology in one place, as well as promote the research being undertaken on their study area. A charitable organisation founded in 2013 by six dedicated family and local historians from three continents, the Society is run by volunteers in order to advance the education of the public in one-place studies. Information and further advice is available to all, though members will have access to a wide range of enhanced benefits. The Society welcomes members from around the world with an interest in one particular place, whether it is a street, village, hamlet or town. Registering a study area (or areas) is optional, though recommended if members are active in their research.
One Place Studies Directory. Directory of one place studies.