HGS Family History Groups
Although most HGS group meetings are in-person meetings, some are held via Zoom, so please do check to see the type of meeting.
For meetings that are held via Zoom only, please contact the appropriate Group Organiser no later than 24 hours prior to the talk to be added to the invitation list. Remember to include your membership number or indicate if you are a guest.
If you plan on travelling to an in-person meeting where you are not already on the Group Organiser’s contact list, we suggest that you contact the Group Organiser to let them know: this way, if the meeting is cancelled (e.g. due to speaker unavailability) they will be able to let you know, saving you an unnecessary trip.
We meet regularly to share, learn, exchange ideas and information, as well as to help us each further explore our family history projects. Why not come along and see for yourself?
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- You can attend the meetings of any of our 8 active Hampshire-based groups.
- The International Group meetings are held every two months via Zoom: these meetings are on alternate months to the National Group meetings.
- The National Group meetings are held every two months via Zoom: these meeting are on alternate months to the International Group meetings.
- Visit a Group’s page (via the menu on the right) to see their programme of talks, news and articles. Contact a Group Organiser using the form at the bottom of their Group page.
- Come and meet like-minded people. HGS Group Meetings are free to members and prospective members.
- They are a good way to gain some new insights on how to further explore your family history.
- Whether you are a beginner or an expert, with a family from within or outside of Hampshire, you will always be welcome and find someone who has something new and interesting to share.
HGS Group Locations
Click on a pin for the address and directions.
HGS Family History Group and Society Events for the next 3 months
To attend a Zoom talk offered by any of the groups, please contact the appropriate group organiser no later than 24 hours prior to the talk. Please include your membership number or indicate if you are a guest.
- May 22, 2025 - Fareham Evening Group: Members' Evening - A WW2 Story
As we remember the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Word War, an opportunity to share an ancestors' story/experience.
- May 28, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Using Maps for Family History - Denise Luker
- June 4, 2025 - International Group: [BST] Portsmouth, A Literary and Pictorial Tour - Matt Wingett
- June 10, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Basingstoke Discovery Centre Library - Drop-in Clinic
Experienced HGS volunteers are on hand to offer help and advice on all things family history related and have the use of Ancestry and Findmypast during the sessions.
- June 10, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: The Hatcher Brothers - Richard Backhouse
- June 11, 2025 - Gosport Group: Members’ Evening
- June 12, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: The Sands Of Time: A Surrey Cottage from 1450 – Dr. Nicholas Dixon
Dr. Nicholas Dixon, member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, will share some remarkable insights into the history of south-east England from one seemingly insignificant cottage in Limpsfield.
- June 19, 2025 - Winchester Group: Portsmouth 3 (1870 - 1930) - Andrew Negus
- June 23, 2025 - Ringwood Group: Members' Visit to Hants Record Office
- June 25, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Forensic Anthropology/Funeral Rites and Practices - Prof Martin Smith
- June 26, 2025 - Fareham Evening Group: 'I married a thousand men!': Tales of a Registrar - Sandy Phillips-Lee
- July 2, 2025 - National Group: The hidden secrets of the 1939 National Register of England & Wales - Linda Hammond
The 1939 National Register of England & Wales is often likened to an additional census for England and Wales. Decode annotations, revealing family history insights, and master the art of discovering hidden secrets within the register.
- July 8, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Basingstoke Discovery Centre Library - Drop-in Clinic
Experienced HGS volunteers are on hand to offer help and advice on all things family history related and have the use of Ancestry and Findmypast during the sessions.
- July 8, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Ministering Angel - Jane Glennie
- July 9, 2025 - Gosport Group: Sinking of the Laconia - Jeremy Prescott
- July 10, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: A Tale Of Two Houses – By Their Deeds Be Known! – Carol Gomm, HGS member
The story of two houses in Fleet & how modest, 20th century houses can also have history.
- July 16, 2025 - Ringwood Group: Members' Evening - What did your family do in WW1
Following the success of last September`s evening, we have another opportunity to share our stories.
- July 17, 2025 - Winchester Group: The Swing Riots - Edward Fennell
- July 23, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Members' Evening - Family History Clinic
- August 9, 2025 - International Group: [BST] Members’ Session – Sharing our Hampshire Research – family names we’re researching, discoveries we’ve made, brick walls we face…and more!
- August 12, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Guided Walk - Eastleigh Town Centre signs, memorials, plaques and plinths - Eric Reed
- August 13, 2025 - Gosport Group: ** No meeting in August **
- August 14, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Members' Social
- August 20, 2025 - Ringwood Group: Members' Event - Cream tea in the afternoon - time/venue to be decided
- August 21, 2025 - Winchester Group: No meeting
- August 27, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Afternoon Walk around Odiham
- September 3, 2025 - National Group: Using Social Media for Family History - Kelly Cornwell
Discover the benefits of using social media to enrich your family history research. Exploring different social media platforms, you will learn how to be confident and efficient when sharing your research, and collaborating and communicating with others.
- September 9, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Basingstoke Discovery Centre Library - Drop-in Clinic
Experienced HGS volunteers are on hand to offer help and advice on all things family history related and have the use of Ancestry and Findmypast during the sessions.
- September 9, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Even more Hampshire History through 10 Objects - Tony Cross
- September 10, 2025 - Gosport Group: History of the World: My family library - JJ Caldwell-Heath
- September 11, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: The Story Of English Handwriting – Jan Smith, retired archivist of 35 years
From early inscriptions to the 20th C including the script used in those pesky parish registers & deeds
- September 17, 2025 - Ringwood Group: Famous family and friends - A talk by members Roy Jones
- September 18, 2025 - Winchester Group: Members’ Evening - Brickwalls / Members Experience of DNA
- September 24, 2025 - Basingstoke Group: Clothing/Materials worn by our ‘ordinary’ ancestors - Jane Hussey & Denise Luker
- October 1, 2025 - International Group: [BST] Life of the poor and assisted emigration at the beginning of the 19th century - Judith Hill