Huddersfield & District Family History Society

27/01/2026

We have received the following message from the Netherlands, can anyone help. Please contact secretary@hdfhs.org.uk if you want to send private information.

My name is Niels van Lieshout and I am from Leende in the Netherlands. My 11-year-old son recently adopted the grave of Private Edward McDonald. He died during the Second World War during the liberation of the Netherlands, see link below. He was from Dewsbury and was the son of Matthew and Sarah McDonald.

I searched online for more information about him and came across your site. I would very much like to find a photo of him so that we can place it at his grave.

I have attached a photo of his gravestone. It is located in Mierlo, near Eindhoven, in the south of the Netherlands. All the soldiers in this cemetery died in the region during Operation Market Garden in the fall of 1944.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2080954/edward-mcdonald/

18/01/2026

This week we attended two fantastic events at Tolson Museum and at Holmfirth Civic. The first was our talk on 'Researching the Dead' delivered to a packed room. The second by Ian Stevenson on Researching your House History was once again very well attended - here are some photos from Holmfirth. Sadly we were so busy at Tolson we forgot the photos!

15/01/2026

Come and meet some of our volunteers tonight at Holmfirth Civic. Ian is giving his talk on how to research your house history.

Have you thought about volunteering with a family history society?
Volunteers help with:
• Research support
• Indexing and transcription
• Events and talks
• Social media and publicity
• Welcoming new members
No specialist knowledge needed — just enthusiasm and an interest in history.

11/01/2026

Big Booklet Giveaway!

Join us at the Root Cellar, Meltham on Saturday 31 January 2026, 11am–4pm.

We’re giving away hundreds of FREE booklets packed with birth, marriage & burial records, alphabetically listed from almost every church in the district — perfect for family history research!

The free copies are available for collection in person only.

11/01/2026

Behind the stone-fronted facades the characters behind the counters may have changed but the sense of community continues. Built by John Jagger a century ago, the parade of eight shops in Carr Lane has stood the test of time and has become a focal point in Slaithwaite.

10/01/2026

This set of free records will be valuable to so many local family historians who have Irish ancestry.

Big news for all of you who are searching for your Irish roots: the 1926 Census of the Ireland will be released online in April 2026! 🥳

This will be the first new census made public since 1911, offering a rare look at life in the 1920s. You’ll be able to search names, addresses, occupations, Irish language ability, and full household details. For many families, this long-awaited release will finally bridge the gap between the 1911 Census and modern records. 💚

If you’re tracing your ancestry, now is a great time to gather names, townlands, and family clues so you’re ready when it goes live.
More updates to come!

Please note: Northern Ireland census records are not included in this release.

07/01/2026

Join our very own house history expert Ian Stevenson for a fascinating talk featuring examples from the Holme Valley at Holmfirth Civic on Thursday 15 January 2026 @ 7.30pm. Hosted by the Holme Valley Civic Society.

05/01/2026

New Year, New Hobby?
Why not explore your family history in 2026?
Join one of our expert led Family History Courses & start uncovering your past.

03/01/2026

We were pleased to help with some of the research into this fascinating project. Please do support the Parade Party.

Two weeks today and we shall be celebrating 100 years of the 8 shops on the Carr Lane Parade! Join us to find out about all the wonderful local history that has been. discovered and documented. From 2-5pm there will be interactive activities, costumed characters, live music, poetry.... and of course birthday cake!

31/12/2025

We wish all our members, followers and volunteers a happy New Year!
Our Meltham Root Cellar will re-open at 2pm on Monday 5th January 2026.
If you received a DNA test as a Christmas gift, we can offer advice on how to get the most out of it.
To become a member of our Society go to https://hdfhs.org.uk/become-a-member/

29/12/2025

Are you starting to think about events to attend in January? This is one not to be missed at Tolson Museum on the 14th.

Society volunteers will be presenting on all things to think about when researching your deceased ancestors. It really isn't just about getting the death record - the cemeteries around the Huddersfield area and beyond might just hold that crucial piece of information.

The Friends of Tolson and Ravensknowle Park will also have refreshments (including cake) for you to enjoy.

We look forward to seeing you.

24/12/2025

Wishing all our members, volunteers, friends and followers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We look forward to helping everyone with their research in 2026.
Our Root Cellar research centre in Meltham will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026