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 is a member of the Federation of Family History Societies and the Yorkshire Group of Family History Societies.

We have enjoyed growth  with time and now have close to 800 members, not just in Yorkshire. International membership is far reaching with active participation from family historians in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA, to name but a few. Within the UK there is a large and widespread body of members who trace some of their roots back to the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The Society’s primary data holdings relate mainly to the current Metropolitan District of Kirklees. This is an area of nearly 160 square miles that includes Batley, Colne Valley, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Holme Valley, Kirkburton, Meltham, Mirfield, and Spen Valley. Within the Kirklees boundary 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 in the Society’s primary data.

The Society is managed by and supported by a dedicated team of volunteers. The wide range of their tasks includes ‘holding office’ on the Committee, assisting visitors to theRoot Cellar, documenting graveyards, transcribing old documents, fulfilling specific research requests and getting out and about with ancestral tourists! Could you consider being a volunteer? If so, drop a line to the Secretary using the button below.