Family history

Family History is now the fastest growing hobby in the UK and across the world. There are lots of places you can go for help and support in your search including joining your local family history society irrespective of whether you have ancestors in Bedfordshire or from further afield. Or join a society in the area in which your family comes from - check out the Federation of Family History Societies for further details.

Bedfordshire Family History Society meets on the first Friday of each month (except August) at 7.30pm at Mark Rutherford Upper School, Wentworth Drive, Bedford. They bring together those interested in family history and heraldry primarily in Bedfordshire but welcome members with interests in other counties. Annual membership fee of £10 plus £2 joining fee. To join or to get further information you can visit their website or write to them at the address on this page.

The Luton Central Library has a large archive section with lots of information of interest to family historians. Click on the link to visit the relevant page or download the attachments for details of the listings and records they hold.

Luton Libraries now have a subscription to Ancestry.com, the major online resource for people researching family history. Luton library members who access this site from a Luton library will be covered by this subscription and therefore be able to use the services free of charge. To join Luton Libraries, pop into your local branch. If you don't know where your nearest library is visit Find a library.