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.
- June 9, 2026 - Fair Oak Group: Building Spitfires without a Factory - Alan Matlock
- June 10, 2026 - Gosport Group: Members’ Evening
- June 11, 2026 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Website Workshop: A Look Beyond Ancestry & Find My Past
A chance to see what websites are out there that you may not have come across – some of them for FREE!
- June 17, 2026 - Ringwood Group: The Lost Buildings of Ringwood - Alex Bancroft, Chair of the Ringwood Society
- June 18, 2026 - Winchester Group: The Commonwealth War Grave Commission - Will Reid
- June 24, 2026 - Basingstoke Group: Members’ Evening: 10-minute talks by members. So, what have you discovered over the past year or so?
A chance to share your findings and seek help where necessary.
- June 25, 2026 - Fareham Evening Group: Members' Evening: If These Walls could talk
This meeting will give members an opportunity to share discoveries made while exploring the history of houses and the people who lived in them, including an ancestor’s home, your own house, or a property where an ancestor worked as a servant.
- July 1, 2026 - National Group: Missing from Home - David Ennifer - via Zoom
- July 8, 2026 - Gosport Group: Visit and tour of Haslar Hospital
- July 9, 2026 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Late Victorian London: A City of Dreadful Delight – Dr Judy Hill
Tales of prostitution, sexual scandal & murder!
- July 9, 2026 - Andover Group: Members’ Research Evening
- July 14, 2026 - Fair Oak Group: Yet More Hampshire History in 10 Object - Tony Cross
- July 15, 2026 - Ringwood Group: Members’ Evening - A House Through Time
The story of a family home. Can you find a picture of the Ringwood Meeting House?
- July 16, 2026 - Winchester Group: Migration: when we get stuck - Laurie Page
- July 22, 2026 - Basingstoke Group: The Salonica Campaign - Darren Rolfe
Fought between the French, British, Russian, Italian Greek and Serbian forces against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bulgaria and Germany. This forms a neglected part of the British history of the First World War. It stands alongside The Western Front and Gallipoli
- July 23, 2026 - Fareham Evening Group: Southampton: Water, Slaughter and Trade - Andrew Negus
Hear the history and development of Southampton from Roman times until 1850. Apart from the stories of visiting kings, a giant, and Jane Austen, who all left their mark, we shall explore the remarkable mediaeval remains of this historic walled town.
- August 5, 2026 - International Group: [BST] British Emigrants in the Empire: some personal stories - Frances Hurd - via Zoom
- August 11, 2026 - Fair Oak Group: Guided Walk – Bishops Waltham - Eric Reed
- August 12, 2026 - Gosport Group: Summer Break - No meeting
- August 13, 2026 - Andover Group: Summer Break - No Meeting
- August 13, 2026 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Summer Social
- August 19, 2026 - Ringwood Group: Members' Summer Social: Afternoon Tea - details nearer the time
- August 20, 2026 - Winchester Group: Summer Break
- August 26, 2026 - Basingstoke Group: A Walking Tour of Odiham - Join the group for a tour around the village
Please contact the group for details.
- August 27, 2026 - Fareham Evening Group: Members' Guided Walk - Fareham Chimney Pots
An informal walk from Fareham, ending up in Wallington with an optional drink in one of the Wallington pubs to end the afternoon. Lots of local history chat plus the story of Fareham Chimney Pots.
- September 2, 2026 - National Group: Adoption: A guide for Family Historians - Kathy Wilshaw - via Zoom
- September 8, 2026 - Fair Oak Group: How the Foundling Hospital led me to South Africa - Paul Richardson
- September 9, 2026 - Gosport Group: Martha Caldwell - J J Heath Caldwell
- September 10, 2026 - Andover Group: Hearts of Oak: Crisis in the New Forest - Gale Pettifer
- September 10, 2026 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Women, The Home & The Spanish Flu In WW1 – Ian Porter
This is the story of how the Great War was won on the Home Front by novelist & historian, Ian.
- September 16, 2026 - Ringwood Group: Members’ Evening - Your most unusual or annoying ancestor! Dead or Alive!
- September 17, 2026 - Winchester Group: Members’ Evening - Group help to solve members brick walls
- September 23, 2026 - Basingstoke Group: Members' Evening: 10-minute Presentations
This is an open forum evening where members get to talk about whatever they wish, ask questions, answer questions, review blocks. Hopefully those with plenty of experience can assist newer members.
- October 7, 2026 - International Group: [BST] Portsdown Hill: a stroll through time - the Bedhampton, Farlington and Drayton - Nigel Gossop - via Zoom
- October 8, 2026 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: How Family History Reflects & Contributes To History – Alan Harding
Ancestors do not live in isolation and Alan’s talk is about putting family into the context of time & place.
