RESEARCH and RESOURCES
HGS Help Desk now open Wednesdays too!
November 16, 2023
The HGS Help Desk in the search room at Hampshire Archives in Winchester will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am – 4pm from Tuesday 21st November. Up until now we have only been open Tuesday and Thursday. Click to find out more about visiting the Centre. – read more…
HGS/HRO Joint Press Release
August 6, 2021
New one-stop-shop for family historians as Hampshire Genealogical Society creates new base in county Record Office Finding out more about your ancestors is set to get easier as Hampshire Record Office in Winchester becomes the new home of the Hampshire Genealogical Society – with the Society’s volunteers and Record Office staff together offering a one-stop-shop […] – read more…
More research tips – ‘Brick walls’
April 30, 2020
1. When searching online, remember that ‘less is more’ try to enter as few details as possible on the search screen try different combinations of name, age and birthplace try searching using just the first name or just the surname 2. Try using wild cards to find those difficult names * stands for any number […] – read more…
Research tips
April 15, 2020
Are you just beginning to research your Family History? Not a beginner? You may find some reminders useful! Look at these tips for researching: Start your family tree with the information you know. Add yourself and all the relatives whose names you know to your tree, and add any birthdays and other life facts you […] – read more…
Home Guard Names in the Hampshire Record Office
March 1, 2019
Did anyone in your family serve in the Home Guard during WWII? They may be included in the number of members in the Hampshire Home Guard who have been mentioned in the HRO catalogue and either appear in documents and photographs. Check out the table below. – read more…
Knowle War Memorial
January 2, 2019
Knowle Hospital was open in 1852 as the Hampshire County Lunatic Asylum. The asylum was renamed Knowle Mental Hospital in c.1923 and following the 1948 introduction of the National Health Service Act, became Knowle Hospital. At the beginning of the 20th century, Knowle Hospital was home to over 1000 patients and staff and was a self […] – read more…
RIP Private Herbert Frank French
December 14, 2018
Herbert Frank FRENCH was born on 21st April 1884 at 11 Hyde Close in Winchester, the illegitimate son of Emily. On 18th January 1908 he married Sarah Ann (Annie) BIGNELL in Meonstoke and then settled in the village to raise their daughters Emily and Ivy. Herbert was initially in the Territorial Army then when WWI […] – read more…
Hampshire County Lunatic Asylum
February 19, 2018
In the 1840s there was a legal requirement for every county to have its own asylum, the result being that Hampshire purchased the land at Knowle Farm near Fareham in order to construct the Hampshire County Lunatic Asylum. – read more…
Odiham School Teacher
February 26, 2017
Teacher at a private school in Odiham around 1900 Ellen Valentine James HGS member Peter GODWIN’s Great Aunt was Ellen Valentine JAMES. She was the youngest of three sisters and was born on St. Valentine’s Day 14 February 1869 in Notting Hill. Her parents were Henry George JAMES who had married Ellen MOREY in the […] – read more…
Uncle Tom of Portsmouth
October 7, 2016
Looking through old bits and pieces can prove rewarding Gordon Brine Many older HGS members will remember my husband Gordon BRINE who unfortunately died on 8 May 2007. As often happens at these times documents, photos and other memorabilia get put away. These tend to become forgotten over the years. Sorting through some of Gordon’s […] – read more…