Ramsbury Completes our Parish Register Transcriptions
The parish register transcriptions for Ramsbury baptisms PR238 and burials PR239 have now been published.
These transcriptions are in separate publications, available either as soft back books or as downloads from our on-line shop at GenFair.
The transcriptions for Ramsbury baptisms, marriages and burials have also been incorporated into our compact disc CMB28, completing that compilation, also available from GenFair as a download or physical disc.
This completes a project started over 35 years ago to publish baptism and burial records for the 302 parishes in Wiltshire covering records from as early as 1538 up to 1837 when the national system for recording this type of data was introduced.
Two other new publications have also been produced.
Trowbridge Settlement Examinations 1740-1831 publication number CS045 and Alderton Manor Court Records 1614-1790 publication number CS259.
A full list of all our publications can be found in the Publications leaflet available on our website.
Any of these publications can be order from Genfair (see link above) or by email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Parish Register Transcriptions for Wilton
The parish register transcriptions for Wilton have now been published.
The transcriptions for baptisms and burials are in separate publications, available either as a softback book or a download, from our on-line shop at GenFair.
The transcriptions for Wilton baptisms, marriages and burials have also been incorporated into CMB10, completing that compilation, also available from GenFair.
The final parish register transcriptions, for Ramsbury, should be available around the New Year.
October 2024 Journal
The October 2024 journal is now on-line and is available to members, who should log on and select Journals through the Members' Area. 
New Society Chairman
Bob Knightley is our new Chairman
At the Society’s Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 21 st September it was announced that our Chairman David Weaver was stepping down from the role after 16 years. He was thanked for the many years of service that he has given to WFHS.
During his period of office he oversaw our move to the Resource Centre where our library, stock of our publications and our research facilities are based. He along with Cy Cutler and Barbara Fuller were appointed Vice-Presidents of the Society.
Sadly our two other Vice-Presidents, John Hurley and Glenys Bettley have both recently died. Jerry King has rejoined the Executive Committee. He was the Chairman from 2005 to 2008.
Bob Knightley was elected as our new Chairman at the Executive Committee meeting held on September 24 th . Bob joined WFHS in 2016 when he and his wife Lindsey moved to Devizes. Neither of them have Wiltshire ancestors but they have been actively researching their genealogy since the mid 1980s. Bob joined the Executive Committee in 2019 and has been Chairman of the Finance Committee for the last 3 years. He also deals with orders for our publications.
The Society’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31March 2024 were presented at the AGM. The report can be found in the Member’s Area of this website.
AGM 2024
WILTSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
Registered Charity No. 290284
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of Wiltshire Family History Society will be held on Saturday 21 September 2024 at the Nursteed Centre, Nursteed Road, Devizes, SN10 3AH commencing at 3.15pm.
The business of the meeting will be to receive the annual report of the Executive Committee as Trustees, to receive the accounts of the Society for 2023/24, to elect the members of the Executive Committee other than the Branch Representatives for the ensuing year, to re-elect or elect where necessary the President and Vice-Presidents of the Society for terms of six years, and to transact any other business on the agenda to be circulated at the meeting.
Proceedings and election of officers will be in accordance with the Constitution.
Nomination forms for the elections may be obtained from the General Secretary by post or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. They should be signed by the proposer, the seconder, and the nominee and reach the General Secretary by Saturday 7 September 2024.
A copy of the accounts may be obtained prior to the AGM from the General Secretary at the Resource Centre upon receipt of a stamped addressed envelope, or email address, after 31 August 2024.
Preceding the AGM, at 2.00pm there will be a talk by Mike Stone on ‘Early Railways in North Wiltshire from Brunel to Westinghouse’ to which all are invited.
July 2024 Journal
The July 2024 journal is now on-line and is available to members, who should log on and select Journals through the Members' Area. 
Advice Sessions
We are soon to start a joint venture with the History Centre at Chippenham to support the family historians who approach the Centre for help. Their archive staff are the experts when it comes to the documents in their care, but they recognise that their knowledge of family history practice and sources is more limited. Hence an appeal to us to help, which we have gladly answered!
From 5th July, volunteers will be in the History Centre on the first Wednesday each month to see enquirers by appointment or to answer questions from casual callers and to help the Centre staff with family history emails. The History Centre is the first port of call for enquiries and will be making appointments for the service.
Will a monthly session be sufficient to meet demand? We don’t know! But if there is a greater need from the community, we would be keen to expand this venture. So, if you live within reach of the History Centre at Chippenham and feel you would like to share your knowledge of how to research family history with new starters or help someone break down their brick wall, please contact me, Jenny Pope at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wiltshire & Swindon History centre opening on Saturdays
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre has just announced that it will be opening on the first Saturday of each month from July onwards. This is great news for those who are not free to attend during the week because of family or work commitments, and we have been pressing for this for some time.
Booking ahead will be essential. You can do this by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tel 01249 705500. See their website www.wshc.org.uk for more information about visiting the Centre.
Ludgershall parish registers transcript
The transcripts for Ludgershall parish registers have now been published. They are available in print, on CD-ROM and download.
Baptisms and burials are available in print and as a download
Baptisms, marriages and burials have been incorporated into CMB17, which is now complete.
2024 Family History Day
Click here to view and download a pdf version of the flyer and map showing how to reach the venue.
Accessing Bristol Street car park and buses 15 June 2024
Unfortunately road works mean that the direct access to Bristol Street carpark shown in our main map has been closed. Access is now via Exeter Street – see below. Current parking rate for the car park is £1.20 for 5 hours (cash or card).
Also, buses which normally run along Bristol Street have been diverted along Faringdon Road. They will stop in London Street/ Sheppard Street: ask for the nearest stop to Emlyn Square
