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There are now 17 branches of the Society, each holding regular meetings and activities
 
Computer Group
Our Computer Group has its own meetings and quarterly newsletter
 
Research Centre
Members of the Society can make use of our extensive collection of reference materials at our Alderley Edge Research Centre.
 
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A complete listing of all our publications in book, microfiche and CD-ROM format
 
Journal
The Cheshire Ancestor is the Society's quarterly journal
 
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How you can join the Society
 
Research Advice
Although we don't do research for people, we will do our best to answer questions about tracing ancestors in Cheshire
 
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Links
Other sites for Cheshire family history.
 

THE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY OF CHESHIRE

RESEARCH CENTRE
The Festival Hall, Talbot Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7HR.
Telephone : 01625 599722
Contact the Alderley Edge Research Centre

The Society's Research Centre opened in October 1997, and is based at the Festival Hall, Talbot Road, Alderley Edge.
 

Facilities

The centre is open to all members of the society, and comprises a library room; fiche/film room with fiche readers and film viewers, a computer room with 3 computers, a fiche/film printer, a photocopier and a large format plotter for printing family trees; and a relaxation area where members can make a cup of tea or coffee and browse through the exchange journals. These facilities are all located on the second floor of the Festival Hall.

Members are required to bring proof of membership on every visit to the centre to gain access. This is required for security by our landlord, Macclesfield Borough Council.

The following items are available at our Research Rooms:

Computers

There is a range of digital information, for family history research only, through a Broadband Internet connection. Check the favourites listed on computer A. There are many CD-ROMs at the centre including Cheshire census in pdf format. The International Genealogical Index is available, including Family Search.

Plotter

Family trees can be printed on one continuous sheet of paper size 9ft long by 3ft high and can depict data in colour. If a coloured plot is required the tree should be submitted in the required colours. Pictures can be reproduced also if they are part of the submitted tree, preferably in .tif format. Jpeg format may not reproduce clearly. Trees can be submitted on either Floppy Disc or CD.  The preferred format is Tree Draw, a Gedcom file may be submitted but information must be supplied as to which person is to be to head the tree. Please provide a telephone no. with the disc.

Contact our computer team, to arrange for your family tree to be printed. Details may be obtained by calling the research centre during opening hours.


Library

  • The Library Catalogue lists the Society’s extensive collection of books

  • Journals from other family history societies in this country and overseas.

  • Non-catalogued items include box file indexes to miscellaneous data, one-name studies and Macclesfield Borough Council Minute books from to 1928 to1975.

Microfilms

  • Cheshire Parish Registers for large parts of Cheshire, including some Bishops' Transcripts. Click here for a full list.

Microfiche

  • General Register Office Indexes to births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales (formerly known as St. Catherine's House Indexes) from 1937 to 1960.

  • 1901 Census for the Cheshire registration districts.

  • 1881 Census Index for England and Wales, by county and national sort. (This is also available on CD-ROM on the computer - a much more powerful tool). The I.G.I. (International Genealogical Index) for England, Scotland and Wales, produced by the LDS.

  • 1891 census returns for part of Cheshire.

  • National Probate Indexes

  • Apprenticeship Records Index for Great Britain, 1710-1774.

  • Hundreds of fiche of Monumental Inscriptions, parish records, census indexes, directories, etc. for Cheshire, Lancashire and many other counties.

 

Research Centre Guide

The Research Centre Guide can be downloaded here
If you do not have Microsoft Word, the Word document can still be viewed by downloading the free viewer program from the Microsoft web site.

Location and Car-Parking

The Festival Hall faces down Stamford Road, and has ample parking spaces. The hall is within easy walking distance of the railway station and bus stop. Entry to our rooms is via the rear entrance, up the stairs to the second floor. Free re-usable parking passes are available from the volunteer on duty. Members are asked to use the rear car parking spaces. Please note that the only access to the centre is via two flights of stairs, and so regrettably wheelchair access is not possible at the moment.

A small kitchen and refreshment area is available for the use of members. Meals and sandwiches may be obtained in Alderley village on the main A34 nearby.

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.00 hours

Please note that the fourth Monday and Tuesday may not fall in the same week. The centre is staffed by volunteers, so the above schedule may occasionally be subject to change. Booking is unnecessary at present but members travelling from further than 30 miles distant may book a reader in advance of their visit, by calling the centre during opening hours. At busy times the computers may be booked for one hour upon arrival at the centre

Conditions of Use

The Research Centre follows the standard practices at County Record Offices and Family History Centres:

  1. You will be asked to sign a register on entering and leaving, in case of fire or other emergencies.

  2. Please use pencils only (no pens).

  3. No smoking is allowed on the premises.

  4. Large bags are not allowed in the Research Rooms.

Due to insurance requirements, Society members only can be admitted, but non-members can join at the door. If you bring a non-member to help, they too must join the Society on arrival (for subscription rates see the How to Join page). The duty volunteers will have a continually updated membership list, but please bring your membership card with you.

Prior booking is necessary for family tree prints from the large format plotter. A charge is made for these and for prints and photocopies. Tea, coffee and parking are free of charge.

The Society suggests that a contribution is made on arrival at the centre. These help with running costs and for the acquisition of resources. Duty volunteers, management sub-committee, project volunteers and other volunteers working for the society give their time and expertise freely. Volunteers undertake many tasks to ensure the efficient running of the centre and to increase the availability of resources. Please contact a duty volunteer or society committee member if you would like to offer help or if you have resources such as fiche or CD-ROMs from which you have extracted all the information that you require for your research and for which you have no further use.

The Society hopes that your visit is enjoyable and successful.

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Last updated 25 July 2008