Gloucestershire Family History Society

Gloucestershire Family History Society The Gloucestershire Family History Society was formed in 1979, as an off-shoot of Bristol & Avon FHS We hope you enjoy your researching with us.

Did your ancestors live or work in Gloucestershire? – If so we can help you in your research.

•Visit the Family History Centre to use our research facilities which include free access to Ancestry, Find My Past and The Genealogist. Get advice from knowledgable volunteers or browse our extensive library of world wide interest.


•Come to Monthly Meetings in Gloucester, or the Forest of Dean


•Visit our Shop which has many books, transcriptions and CDs of local history & interest for sale.


•Join Us and become one of our friendly community of researchers who receive quarterly Journals and access to local search registers via our search services service. The Gloucestershire Family History Society (GFHS) is a self-help organisation devoted to all researching their ancestors and the background against which they led their lives in Gloucestershire and beyond.

Dymock - continuedIn 1837 a chapel was built at Broom's Green by the United Brethren, on the border of the parish with H...
19/10/2025

Dymock - continued

In 1837 a chapel was built at Broom's Green by the United Brethren, on the border of the parish with Herefordshire. They later met elsewhere and in 1840 the chapel was handed to the Bible Christians. A substantial number joined the Latter Day Saints and several families emigrated to America soon afterwards.

The Hereford Times of 14th November 1840 describes the abuse that their members faced.

The PROCEEDINGS AT DYMOCK – “The Dymock lads” (as the male part of the population of that parish are generally called) and lasses too, have been amusing themselves very much of late by shooting, hanging, and burning effigies, which they dressed to represent some of the leaders of the “latter day saints” of that neighbourhood.'

The chapel was taken over in 1875 by the Primitive Methodists, but closed in 1894. Wesleyan Methodists used it in 1900 and it was reopened as an Anglican mission room the following year.

The use of the image is by the permission of ARCHI UK Website (https://www.archiuk.com) (ARCHI Information Systems Ltd).

19/10/2025

We are often asked questions about house known as The Ridge. We now have a display in the Heritage Centre with information about the house and one of the families who lived there.
This display was assembled by a new volunteer Laura (19), who has since gone back to university. Laura has asked to return to us in the holidays for further projects which we will gladly provide.
We are open on Mon/Tue/Fri/Sat from 10.30 to 15.30

On Thursday 23 October, GFHS and the Friends of Gloucestershire Archives will be holding a joint meeting, where local hi...
18/10/2025

On Thursday 23 October, GFHS and the Friends of Gloucestershire Archives will be holding a joint meeting, where local historian, Simon Randall, will talk about the Cotswolds in the Civil War.
This will be held in the Dunrossil Room in the Heritage Hub. Refreshments from 2pm and the talk starts at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome - no need to book.

However, the Research Centre will be closed in the afternoon.

The image is of a letter from Henrietta Maria, dated 5th December 1645.

Dymock - continuedDymock is also known for its literary connections. In the early 20th century, a group of poets known a...
17/10/2025

Dymock - continued

Dymock is also known for its literary connections. In the early 20th century, a group of poets known as the Dymock Poets lived in the village and were inspired by its natural beauty. The group included famous poets such as Robert Frost and Edward Thomas, and their work is celebrated in the village today. Dymock also hosts an annual poetry festival, which attracts visitors from all over the world.

The church houses an excellent exhibition on this group.

16/10/2025

During WW1, Leckhampton Court in Cheltenham was used by the British Red Cross as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers.

This photograph shows some of the patients, taken between 1915 and 1919 when the hospital closed. (Ref number: D8831/4/3)

16/10/2025

Message from Hannah Frost - I work at Yate & District Heritage Centre, which provides facilities for displaying aspects of Yate’s past history as well as archive and research facilities for the storage of artefacts, documents, maps and photographs relevant to Yate.
We run a series of lectures each year on local history that may be of interest to your followers. Our lectures are free to attend, although donations are kindly welcome to keep the service running.
See poster attached for more details.

15/10/2025

All the local history society's have produced a book from last year's display in the museum in the park it is on sale for £12

Dymock - continuedLike a previous parish (Mickleton), Dymock is on the northern boundary of the County and has a diverse...
15/10/2025

Dymock - continued

Like a previous parish (Mickleton), Dymock is on the northern boundary of the County and has a diverse range of buildings.

Dymock - continuedThe sole public house in the village, the Beauchamp Arms, was called the Plough until 1880. It was bou...
13/10/2025

Dymock - continued

The sole public house in the village, the Beauchamp Arms, was called the Plough until 1880. It was bought in 1997 by the parish council.

George Henderson wrote in the ‘Citizen’ newspaper on 3rd May that year:

‘Pub Watch – When villagers at Dymock talk about their village pub, they really know what they are talking about. For the Beauchamp Arms is the only pub in the country that is owned by the very community that it serves. The story of how the Beauchamp Arms staved off the threat of closure reads like the outline for one of the old Ealing Comedies. A shiver of horror ran through the community last year when the word went round – landlady Ann Evans had decided to hang up her apron. At that point the Beauchamp looked just like another country pub going to the wall. As the village’s only other pub, the Crown, had closed down about five years ago, it looked like villagers would have to walk the two miles to the Horseshoe at Brooms Green. In many villagers that would have been that, but Dymock folk are made of sterner stuff. Alarmed by the prospect of becoming a ‘dry’ community, parish councillors put their heads together and came up with a daring plan. If no one else wanted to buy their pub, why not buy it themselves. Eventually a deal was struck to raise £160,000 from the Public Works Loan Board to cover the cost of purchase, stamp duty and so on and the pub’s future was secured. It is now to be leased to a management company who will cover the 20-year repayments. New licensees Nick Line and Carol Ann Witts are now firmly ensconced, pulling pints and serving meals for all they’re worth. ‘We are now working to get the garden into shape’, said Carol. ‘At one time it won a best garden of the year award, but it’s been let go a bit over the years. We’re hoping to open it up to customers in about another month in time for the summer.’

with thanks to the Gloucestershire Pubs and Breweries website for this information.

Our next online event will be ‘Who Was the Father? How DNA Helped Find the Answer’ with Jane Hough, at 7.30pm on 15th Oc...
12/10/2025

Our next online event will be ‘Who Was the Father? How DNA Helped Find the Answer’ with Jane Hough, at 7.30pm on 15th October.

Jane’s talk combines her personal story of trying to identify the unnamed father on a birth certificate with explaining various aspects of DNA research in a simple, non-technical, way. Through DNA research and traditional genealogical research, Jane ultimately succeeded in identifying her mystery ancestor.

https://gfhs.org.uk/event/who-was-the-father-how-dna-helped-find-the-answer-jane-hough/

Dymock - continuedAnn Cam's SchoolA particularly prosperous family in Dymock were the Cams. The rebuilding of their main...
11/10/2025

Dymock - continued

Ann Cam's School

A particularly prosperous family in Dymock were the Cams. The rebuilding of their main house (later Wilton Place) was presumably commissioned by William, a London merchant, who is commemorated by the largest monument in the churchyard. His daughter Ann became lady of Dymock manor on buying Boyce Court in 1769 and, although she continued to live in London, was possibly in Dymock at her death in 1790. Part of her large fortune was used to provide a new village school and a family memorial in the church was altered to give pride of place on it to her.

The school opened in 1825, but was moved to a new building on the edge of the village in 1974, and still bears her name.

Address

Gloucestershire Heritage Hub, Clarence Row, Alvin Street
Gloucester
GL13AH

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441452524344

Website

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