About Us
The Huddersfield and District Family History Society was formed in 1987 and its aims are to promote and encourage mutual help between people interested in family history and genealogy. Based at its Headquarters and Research Centre at The Root Cellar in Meltham, the Society is a registered charity (No 702199).
The Society caters particularly for those with interests in the Metropolitan District of Kirklees. The area comprises Batley, Colne Valley, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Holme Valley, Kirkburton, Meltham, Mirfield, and Spen Valley, an area of nearly 160 square miles. Within its boundaries lie the eleven ancient parishes of Almondbury, Batley, Birstall, Dewsbury, Emley, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Kirkheaton, Mirfield, Penistone and Thornhill. Additional ancient parishes of High Hoyland, Halifax and Saddleworth are on the fringes of the area and some parts of these are also included.
Please consider joining the Society if you have an interest in finding out about your ancestors, whether you now live locally or far afield.
Research
The Root Cellar
At the Root Cellar, manned by Society volunteers, all the Society’s published transcriptions may be consulted and / or purchased. There is also a collection of genealogical fiche, film and booklet resources available for reference. Full details of the Society’s publications are in the online store. The store also has a number of books of interest to Family and Local History Researchers.
Read
Publications
The Society has a collection of over 600 booklets for sale, some of which are also combined into CDs. They contain indexes to Parish and Non Conformist Registers as well as Memorial Inscriptions.
We also have third-party books related to the history and genealogy of the HDFHS area. These are very useful for reference materials and also perfect as presents! They cover various subjects including biographies, local histories, place and name guides and aspects of family history research.
A Donation To The Huddersfield and District Family History Society
The Society is dependent upon membership fees, sales of publications, research and search fees, and donations in order to be able to continue with the aims as stated above, as well as being able to maintain the Root Cellar and open our records to all who wish to use them. Therefore, should you feel that you would like to make a donation to the Society, this can be done online via the Society's 'Give As You Live' account.