Suffolk Family History Society

This section lists county associations of Suffolk providing details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.

• Alde Valley
• Felixstowe
• Suffolk

Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group

Alde Valley FHG aims to promote the study of genealogy, especially in East Suffolk. It can also help you if you are searching for your ancestors in the area but live outside the county.

Information

Society Research Centre

The Society has a Research Centre, situated in Leiston.

Address:

Old Council Room
Leiston Council Offices
Old Post Office Square
Main Street
Leiston
IP16 4ER

Research Centre Resources

A range of reference material is available covering Suffolk and other counties, which include:

• Census Indexes
• Directories
• Genealogical Reference Books
• Graveyard Catalogues for Benhall, Saxmundham, Leiston, Eastbridge, Aldringham and Sutton
• Historic Maps
• Information regarding War Memorials
• Local History Books
• Marriage Indexes
• Marriage Licence Indexes
• Memorial Inscriptions
• Parish Register Transcriptions
• Shipping Record Indexes
• War Memorials

Research Centre Appointments

You are asked to make an appointment before visiting the Centre.

Society Databases and Indexes

Numerous databases and indexes are accessible on their site, which include:

• Alde Valley Local Authorities (1830 to date)
• Alde Valley Registration Districts (1837 to date)
• Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group Newsletter 23
• Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group Newsletter 30
• FHF’s (Family History Federation’s) ‘Our Really Useful Leaflet 2019’ UK Edition
• Perpetual Calendar Calculator (after 1752)

Society Maps

Some old maps of Suffolk are accessible on their site, which include:

• Boroughs, Districts and Counties 1894-1934/5
• Suffolk Map c. 1720
• Suffolk Map c. 1900

Society Transcriptions

Some church record transcriptions have been compiled by members of the Society, which include:

• Index and Map of Leiston St Margaret’s Graveyard
• Memorial Inscriptions: Benhall St. Mary’s, Aldringham Baptist Chapel (Providence Chapel) and Saxmundham United Reformed Church)
• Photographic Record of Saxmundham United Reformed Church Registers

Website:
http://www.aldevalleyfamilyhistorygroup.onesuffolk.net

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Felixstowe Family History Society

The Society was formed in 1986 and aims to encourage the study of genealogy. It also aims to help you conduct research, especially if you have ancestors and relatives from the area around Felixstowe.

Information

Society Parishes

Felixstowe FHS covers the following parishes:

Society Magazine Articles

Some articles originally published in their magazine Roots and Branches are accessible on their site, which include:

• Early Developments in Photography
• Memories of a Suffolk Farm Lad
• Wife and a Corpse

Society Publications

Many publications are sold by the Society, which include:

• Census Indexes
• Parish Register Transcriptions
• Memorial Inscriptions
• The Rise and Rise of the Middle Classes – Judith Campbell (covers 300 years from the perspective of one East Anglian family)
• The Sampler – Judith Campbell (Short stories of five samplers)

Members’ Interests

A list of surnames currently being researched by members is on the site.

Website:
http://www.felixstowefhs.onesuffolk.net

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Suffolk Family History Society

The Society was formed in Lowestoft in 1975, its aims being to encourage and promote the study of genealogy, especially in the area.

Information

Society Branches

The Society has many branches, including:

Bury St Edmunds

Haverhill

Ipswich

Lowestoft

Sudbury

West London

Bury St. Edmunds

Meeting Location:

Hyndman Centre
Hospital Road
Bury St. Edmunds
IP33 3JT

Email:

burystedmunds@suffolkfhs.org.uk 

A short history of Bury is available, along with blog posts regarding talks given to the Society and group trips.

Haverhill

Address (Secretary):

Charmian Thompson
5 Hadrian Close
Haverhill
Suffolk
CB9 0NH

Meeting Location:

Old Independent Church Hall
19 Hamlet Road
Haverhill
CB9 9EF

Email:

haverhill@suffolkfhs.org.uk

Ipswich

Address (Secretary):

Mrs Jenny Rawlinson
10 Carlford Court
112 Parliament Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 5EL

Meeting Location:

The Pioneer Hall
East of England Co-op Education Centre
11 Fore Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 1JW

Telephone:

01473 902367

Email:

jennyrawlinson@hotmail.com

Email (Chairman):

howard.king1@outlook.com 

A car park is available behind The Pioneer Hall, the entrance to this car park being on Waterworks Street (IP4 1JG).

Details about Ipswich are available on the site.

Lowestoft

Meeting Place:

United Reformed Church
London Road North
Lowestoft
NR32 1HB

Telephone:

01502 562584

Email:

lowestoft@suffolkfhs.org.uk 

Car parking is available at the venue, and the building is fully accessible.

Sudbury

Meeting Place:

Long Melford
Hall Street (opposite the Bull Hotel)
Sudbury
CO10 9JQ

Email:

sudbury@suffolkfhs.org.uk 

West London

Meeting Place:

Bishopshalt School
Royal Lane
Hillingdon
UB8 3RF

Address:

Mrs Joan F. Horton
26 The Crescent
Slough
SL1 2LQ

Email:

westlondon@suffolkfhs.org.uk 

Society Publications

Many publications are available for sale, which include:

• Baptism Index: Hartismere Deanery 1754-1812
• Baptism Indexes 1813-1900 for Blackbourn, Hartismere, Hoxne and East of Sudbury Deaneries
• Bury Rentals 1526, 1547
• Freemen of the Borough of Ipswich 1320-1996
• How to find Suffolk Towns and Villages
• Journal of John Kirby Moore of Badley 1821-1882
• Marriage Index: Thingoe Deanery 1650-1753
• Mildenhall Rentals 1501
• Monograph on the Parish of St. Mary Stoke, Ipswich
• Monumental Inscriptions
• Parish Churches of West Suffolk
• Rentals of Manor of Prior of St Mary, Woodbridge 1560
• Suffolk Burial Index: Entries to 1900

Society Research Service

For a fee, the Society is prepared to search in their baptisms, marriages, burials and monumental inscriptions indexes for instances of a specific name.

Website:
http://www.suffolkfhs.org.uk