Please note that due to the Municipal Buildings being closed tomorrow 10th February the FHSC Crewe Research Centre will also be closed - this is out of our control and we apologise for the late notification.
1st of the month means my usual list of free online events.
As always the link below each event has more information and full registration details, Enjoy and do report back on anything that you attended.
News from Cheshire Archives -
We were delighted to see that our construction contractor, Kier, started work on site in Chester in November and in January started work at Crewe. We held a drop-in session in November for residents at Hoole Community Centre to share information about what’s coming and to answer questions they had.
We are holding a drop-in at Crewe Market on Thursday 20 February, from 11am to 1pm. Some of the team will be there, together with Kier, to talk to people about the new centre in Crewe and its construction.
Currently we are expecting the new centres to be open in the middle of 2026. We will continue to keep you updated through this newsletter.
Our photograph shows the Crewe site as construction begins.
The annual Battle of Nantwich re-enactment takes place on 25th January this year
Full details can be found at the following link 👉 https://www.battleofnantwich.org
Thanks to the thouands of individuals and organisations who responded to the UK Ministry of Justice’s proposals on the retention of wills.
Good news: The UK Government has determined not to proceed with any reforms that involve the destruction of original wills
Read report in full 👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/storage-and-retention-of-original-will-documents
Ancestry will publish the 1921 census records for England and Wales on 7 January 2025
The records are to be made part of Ancestry’s 'All UK and Ireland' and 'All Records' subscription packages. They will also be free to search in subscribing libraries and archives via Ancestry Library Edition and at our Research Centres in Crewe and Mobberley
According to WDYTYA magazine, it seems that Ancestry has licensed the transcription from Findmypast, so any errors not already reported and altered will still be there, unlike the 1911 when Ancestry teamed up with The Genealogist to create new transcriptions
Ancestry are also offering a 50% discount until 12th January - T&Cs apply see link below
Happy New Year, 1st of the month means my usual list of free online events.
As always the link below each event has more information and full registration details, Enjoy and do report back on anything that you attended.
2025 is going to be an exciting one for FHSC with our Operational Teams being established and new events and educational programmes taking place.
Keep an eye out for the newsletters and emails for full details as they are published
📷Alexandra Koch via Pixabay
The 1921 census is expected to be published on Ancestry in the first quarter of 2025.
This is because FindMyPast's exclusive contract to publish the census will expire at the end of 2024.
No definite date given as far as I can see at the moment but watch this space
It also remains to be seen if Ancestry increase their subscription rates
Wherever and however you celebrate - we wish you all the very best for the season and a very happy 2025
The eNewspaper collections of local, regional and national publications will be available to view, download and read for free on BorrowBox alongside eBooks and eAudiobooks.
If you’re already a BorrowBox user, you’ll be able to see the eNewspaper collections straight away and get reading.
1st of the month means my usual list of free online events.
As always the link below each event has more information and full registration details, Enjoy and do report back on anything that you attended.
🎉 Celebrating 40 years of Family Tree magazine! 🎉
To mark 4 decades of family history, here is the chance to read the very first issue!
Link 👉https://www.family-tree.co.uk/news/read-the-very-first-issue-of-family-tree/
Our Black Friday Offer returns
Starting on 25th November and continuing until 24th December there will be a 10% discount on all purchases from our online shop.
Simply quote BF2024 in the Coupon Code box at payment/check out and the discount will be automatically applied.
The code can be used any number of times during the month, so you don’t need to order everything in one go.
Happy shopping.
The latest series of the Federation of Family History's - Really Useful podcast is now out
There are 6 episodes in all covering the following topics: Researching Women, Introduction to Archives, Yorkshire Ancestors, Talks, Sporting Ancestors and Beyond the 19th Century
The series features 4 FHSC members - Jane Hough, Dave Annal, Dave Day and Margaret Roberts
Pop along and have a listen 
https://www.exploreyourgenealogy.co.uk/podcast
Wallasey Central Library, including the former Earlston House has been added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest and it is now listed at Grade II.
A Carnegie library of 1910 to 1911 by Ralph B MacColl of Bolton and George E Tonge of Southport, of red Ruabon brick and buff terracotta, in Edwardian Baroque style; incorporating a house of around 1840, of buff sandstone in Scottish Tudor Gothic style
Read more 👉https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1487459?section=official-list-entry
Last week Margaret Roberts [FHSC Chair] and Margaret Spate [Crewe Research Centre Leader] attended the launch of the booklet produced by Colin Hayes of Alstom - More than just their names: The War Memorials of Crewe Works
Copies of the booklet are available at the Crewe Research Centre, a small donation would be appreciated with all donations going to support the Armed Forces Charity, SSAFA - see https://www.ssafa.org.uk/
More on the project - https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/11/tributes-at-cheshire-works-to-mark-remembrance-day.html
📷Alstom
The final part in the series of blogs by FHSC member & Crewe Research Centre volunteer Paul Chiddicks which tell the stories of the six brave bomb disposal men that died during WWII in Nantwich
Read the story of Sapper George Lucas here 👉https://chiddicksfamilytree.com/2024/07/26/sapper-george-lucas/
FindMyPast are continuing wth their free access weekends and for the final weekend all their records including the 1921 census are free to access, this offer is between 8-11th November
Ancestry have free access to their global Military Records between 7-13th November
Please remember to watch the T&Cs
1st of the month means my usual list of free online events.
As always the link below each event has more information and full registration details, Enjoy and do report back on anything that you attended.