FROM the Monday, March 26, the family history advice service at the Tameside Council buildings in Ashton will transfer to the local studies and archives centre at the central library, Old Street.

The service is run by volunteers who have spent many years studying family history. They will be available to give one-to-one advice to anybody starting out on their family history or who have hit a problem and need help.

Anybody wishing to use the service needs to book a session either by phone (0161 342 4242) or by calling in. The volunteers will be using online databases and can advise on ancestors wherever they may have lived.

They will be available from 10am until 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Since Sebastian Coe visited the central library to research his ancestors for BBC-1’s “Who Do You Think You Are?” programme there has been a boom in family history research at the local studies and archives centre.

A very wide range of sources is available for ancestors who came from the Tameside area and staff can advise on the range of documents which help us understand more about the world of our forebears.

Both the Ancestry and Find My Past online databases are available for free, along with access to other online sources such as FamilySearch and Cheshire Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Library staff are on hand to help users, but it is always best to book to be sure of getting a computer.

Family history advice sessions are run at the centre by volunteers from the Cheshire Family History Society based in Dukinfield. They are experienced family historians and can advise about research whatever the area. They run drop-in sessions on the first and third Tuesday of every month from 2pm until 4pm. There is no need to book.

Anybody interested in family history would find membership of the society very helpful. They meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm at Old Chapel, Dukinfield.

Tameside Libraries also host family history classes. They cater for beginners looking at online sources to more advanced sessions using archive material.

Cllr Gerald Cooney, Tameside Council’s executive member for learning and achievement, said: “There is a thriving family history scene in Tameside so now is a good time to start learning about the life and times of our forebears.”

Contacts:

Alice Lock, Larysa Bolton, Tameside Local Studies and Archives Centre 0161 342 4242
Sue Mitchell, family history volunteers
Gay Oliver, Cheshire Family History Society 0161 338 5241