Monthly meetings are held at the Upton-by-Chester Pavilion in Wealdstone Lane, Chester CH2 1HD, at 7.30 pm on the last Thursday of the month apart from August and December. There is easy access and ample carparking space. A map showing the new location is at the bottom of the page. A downloadable copy of the 2025 Programme can be found under the Chester Library menu item to the left and then under Chester Public Documents.
Welcome to our 2026 meetings programme
29 January New archives centre in Chester and opportunities for volunteers
by Paul Newman (Cheshire Archives) and Margaret Roberts (FHSC Chair)
26 February A life on the ocean wave
The life of coastguard Henry Deane with tales of smuggling and lifesaving
by Carolyn Barnwell
26 March Adventures in DNA testing by Sue Foy
30 April Tales from Chester Asylum by Sue Chatterton (University of Chester)
28 May Cheshire women photographers during the infancy of Victorian studio photography
by Linda Clarke
25 June Old news - A press guide to old Chester by Chris Fozzard
30 July AGM and Apprenticeships by Gill Campbell
24 September Cheshire maps and map-makers by Jonathan Pepler
29 October Researching Merchant Navy officers and seamen by Victoria Doran
26 November A seasonal miscellany
Most meetings feature a speaker on an aspect of family history or local interest. As well as a talk, there is a family history help desk and the opportunity to discuss family history topics with other members. Many members have particular areas of knowledge on family history or experience with using computers and the internet for family history. There is an entry charge of £2.00 for members and £3.00 for visitors. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available free of charge at the end of the meeting.
We also run a family history help desk at the Library at Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester CH1 2AR, from 10 am to 12 noon on Tuesdays which is open to everyone looking for help with their family history.
If you are a newcomer to family history or are looking for some local knowledge or have run up against a brickwall or would like some help on a computing or internet aspect of family history, just ask. There is always somebody who would be pleased to help.
For enquiries or further information please contact .