Find your ancestors in Bradford Family History Society

Bradford Family History Society

The city of Bradford began as a market town and by the mid 19th century had become a world famous Yorkshire textile manufacturing centre. The city was also noted for its coal, iron and stone working and was served by a transport infrastructure of canal, railway and road.

Bradford Family History Society was founded in 1982 and is now well-established with a world-wide membership. Two regular meetings are held at Glyde House in Bradford each month - one on the third Monday evening of each month and one on the morning of the first Thursday. At both of these meetings, members can hear a variety of speakers on topics of family and local history interest. They can discuss their research with fellow members over tea or coffee beforehand. In addition, there are occasionally other meetings for specific purposes such as Getting Started Workshops. The Society’s own publications are on sale and exchange journals from other Societies are available for borrowing. Leaflets about relevant local events are on display. The Society currently has a number of projects transcribing and publishing local records.

The Society uses the census Registration District of Bradford, West Riding as their geographical area of interest, which covers much more than the original township of Bradford.

The area covers townships and hamlets including:

Adwalton, Allerton, Bierley, Bolton, Bolton Woods, Bowling, Bradford Moor, Buttershaw, Calverley, Clayton, Cleckheaton, Cullingworth Gate, Denholme, Drighlington, Dudley Hill, East Bierley, East Bowling, Eccleshill, Fagley, Farsley, Frizinghall, Fulneck, Great Horton, Greengates, Heaton, Hewenden, Horton, Hunsworth, Idle, Laisterdyke, Lidget Green, Little Horton, Low Moor, Manningham, Nab Wood, North Bierley, Oakenshaw, Odsal, Pudsey, Queensbury, Saltaire, Scholes, Shipley, Thornbury, Thornton, Toftshaw, Tong, Troydale, Tyersal, Undercliffe, West Bowling, Wibsey, Wilsden, Windhill, Wrose and Wyke.

There is a limited search service to provide members with further assistance with research. The Society has also produced several local publications, details of which can be obtained through the quarterly journal “Bod-Kin”, in which a listing of newly submitted members’ own family history interests can be found, and from the Society’s website at www.bradfordfhs.org.uk. This provides details of publications and how to obtain them online, information about the Society’s programme of talks, plus how to join this friendly Society. The website also has a members’ only section for entering family history interests and communicating with other members.

Available Records

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