Research Material

The major collections held in our Resource Centre are listed below.

Name Indexes

A master Surname Index of over 2.5 million names from many of our publications is used in the Resource Centre to sign-post where to find further information, often in less well-known WFHS resources.  It is of particular use when we receive enquiries from researchers who have reached a dead end.  Additionally, free downloadable name indexes to more of our publications are available on our website (click here  ), again providing potentially useful sign-posting.

Apprenticeships

All surviving records for the county. Some information is also in the relevant Wiltshire Record Society Volumes held by the Society and on some websites.

Crime Records

Quarter Sessions 1722-1849 (Goodies and Baddies) criminals and witnesses. Also available online: see the Our Records on Findmypast page for links.  Summary convictions 1698-1903 (Minor crimes before justices). 

Eunice Banks Library

Named in memory of Eunice Banks, who bequeathed a generous gift to the Society, it holds more than 4000 items of books and other ephemera, including family trees and family records, many indexed by name and place.  The holdings are itemised on a central catalogue in the Resource Centre , in many cases by the names within the individual documents.  For information about the holdings, contact our Librarian via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Marriage Licence Bonds for Sarum Diocese

Covering much of Wiltshire, Berkshire and Dorset and the parish of Uffculme in Devon, and also brides and grooms from other counties being married by licence within the Diocese.  Available on CD from us, see our Sales Leaflet,  and also available online: see the Our Records on Findmypast page for links.

Monumental Inscriptions

Searchable database for the whole of Wiltshire. For more information, go to the Monumental Inscriptions page.

Nonconformist Index

Wiltshire records which were deposited in 1837 and a few others. By surname for the whole county and in parishes.

Parish Register Transcripts

All our published transcripts for baptisms and burials, and the marriages from the Nimrod index. For availability see our Sales Leaflet. For more information go to our Parish Records page.  Most are also available online: see the Our Records on Findmypast page for links. 

Strays Collection

Over 30,000 records of people who have moved away from Wiltshire or who have connections with the county.  Available in the Members’ Area for logged-in members: see the Resources: Wiltshire Strays Collection page

Swindon Rates & Magistrates

Over a hundred pages of detail about the lives and times of Swindon people: Swindon Rate Books 1865, 1867, 1868, 1869 and Swindon Magistrates' Court Books 1915-1924.  Note: This is only available as a PDF for logged-in members from the Resources menu

Wiltshire Friendly Society

Records of many thousands of Wiltshire Friendly Society members from 1837 to 1871.  A free name index is available on our website (click  here ) and logged-in members can see more information and the transcription on the  Wiltshire Friendly Society page.

 

GenFair

For all our publication sales.