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
Corsley History Day
The Corsley Reading Room Committee are putting on a village History
Day on Saturday July 6th. Attached is a an outline of their plans for the day
Salisbury St Martin
The transcripts for Salisbury St Martin parish registers have now been published. They are available in print, on CD-ROM and download:
Two books; baptisms and burials
CD-ROM
CMB7 - includes baptisms, marriages and burials.
Download
CMB7 - includes baptisms, marriages and burials.
The links above take you to the relevant item in GenFair, our online shop.
There is also a free name index on this website in our Free Name Indexes page.
Proposed Destruction of Wills - Ministry of Justice
Our Wiltshire Family History Society President and Chairman have jointly written to the Ministry of Justice about the proposal to destroy old wills.
Our President and Chairman's response is available here but in summary it says
This Society takes a strong position against the destruction of original wills which have an historical importance and significance that would be seriously compromised if they were to be preserved only in digital format.
The root of the problem is the fact that the MoJ is not an archive service, despite holding a collection of manuscripts of national importance. It is not bound by the principles that underpin such a service: that archives are unique and irreplaceable, ‘They are primary source material and maintaining their integrity is vital to their legal, evidential and historical value.’ (Surrey History Centre website; accessed 10 Jan 2024)
Digitising archives has much merit in allowing greater access and reducing wear and tear on the originals. However, digital copies are vulnerable in different ways to documents. They can become inaccessible and therefore lost as hardware becomes outdated or is insufficiently backed up.
There is a consultation with the deadline for responding by the 23 February, but it is likely that the outcome will not be announced for several months.
The Family History Federation January Bulletin No 41 has an article by independent author Richard Holt about the issue. This has more information and links to the relevant consultations and press releases etc.
April 2024 Journal
The April 2024 journal is now on-line and is available to members, who should log on and select Journals through the Members' Area. 
January 2024 journal
The January 2024 journal is now on-line and is available to members, who should log on and select Journals through the Members' Area. 
October 2023 journal
The October 2023 journal is now on-line and is available to members, who should log on and select Journals through the Members' Area. 
Wiltshire Strays - updated version
Our Wilthire Strays database has been updated with more new records. There are now over 29,000 events available.
A name and event index is available to all in the Free Name Index page in Publications. The full database is avilable to members in the Resource section, once logged in.
In both cases the records are in a single pdf file, which has bookmarks enabled to ease navigation. This facility works with the downloaded file.
Remember, if you spot any Wiltshire strays, please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Happy hunting!!
Salisbury St Edmund parish register transcripts now available for purchase or download
We are pleased to announce the publication of Salisbury St Edmund parish register transcripts.
The baptisms and burials transcripts are each available as printed books and as downloads.
They are also available, together with the transcript of marriages, as CMB 6 on CD-ROM or as a download.
All versions can be ordered through GenFair.
