LFHHS Resources

The Society has considerable resources available to researchers. Members have access to most of them free of charge through branch meetings, though non members can buy them.

THE RESOURCE CENTRE
The Society Resource Centre at 2 Straits, Oswaldtwistle will open each Thursday 1pm to 5 pm. The Society also a resource facility at Astley Hall Farmhouse Resource Centre From May 1st, the Family History Research Centre at 2 Strait, Oswaldtwistle BB5 3LU will also be open on the first Saturday of each month from 1.00pm to 5.00pm (ie During 2010: 1st May; 5th Jun; 3rd Jul; 7th Aug; 4th Sep; 2nd Oct; 6th Nov; 4th Dec) Catalogues of the resources available to view at the Centre are available from the Downloads page We would like to open more frequently but this can only be achieved if more members are willing to help. Training will be given for anyone wishing to help and for more details please contact Tony Foster

The Centre is being developed as a central resource, but branches also have their own stocks as below. Please note this list is not exhaustive, and there is likely to be more rather than less at branches:
Blackburn with darwen
	In addition to all the Society Library box holdings, and project microfiche, the branch has built up its own library with general reference books and materials specific to the Blackburn/Darwen area, including copies of monumental inscriptions for several churches, for example, St James at Lower Darwen and Tockholes Independent Chapel.
Bury
	The Branch Library contains a large quantity of hard-copy projects, including surname and street indexes for the 1841 to 1901 censuses, except 1881, and name indexes for the registers of many of the local churches. Full monumental inscription reproductions are held for many local burial grounds, except for the major cemeteries. Alphabetical indexes of Bury Cemetery burials are now available from 1920 to 1979, and work is continuing on this project. This extensive library is available for use on meeting nights. Most Branch and Society projects are also held on microfiche, and there are CDs with the Lancashire census images for the 1841 and 1891 censuses and the full transcription of the 1881 census for the whole of Great Britain. Other research material, including books, maps and various records, make up the resource facilities of the Branch and is available on Research Evenings, or by prior arrangement on other meeting nights. The Branch Library now holds an almost complete run of Lancashire Parish Register volumes which are available for reference only on meeting nights. The Branch works closely with Bury Library and Archives Service and is collaborating with other local history and heritage groups to ensure the preservation and expansion of their collection of photographs of the Bury area. This will provide an important local background resource for those interested in the area in the last century. A Family History Help Surgery is held at Bury Central Library on Thursday mornings from 10.00 am - 12.30 pm.
Chorley
	For details of the LFHHS Chorley Research Centre including resources held, opening times and contact details, please follow this link
Fylde
	Please follow this link for details of resources held by the Fylde Branch
Heraldry
	With our membership we have extensive resources of heraldic material. Members may specialise in a particular section of the subject, and are pleased to offer advice when requested.
Hyndburn
	Although the branch library holding is as yet, quite small, we do have many microfiche with information about local church registers and graveyards. We are at the moment recording monumental inscriptions at the local municipal cemetery.
Irish
	The group has the International Genealogical Index for Ireland, the LDS locality catalogue for Ireland, Slaters Directories for the four provinces and a constantly growing reference and lending library both on microfiche and in print. We exchange Journals with various Irish family history societies, and have close contact with the Clans of Ireland organisation. The group also have the Griffiths Valuation of Ireland.
Lancaster and Morecambe
	The International Genealogical Index for England Wales and Scotland on microfiche. We also have the 1881 Census transcript for England and Wales on microfiche, together with the 1891 Census for Lancashire north of the Ribble (including Furness), also on microfiche. We have all the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society projects that are available (on microfiche), a computer index of local newspaper Births Marriages and Deaths, and an extensive library of books and indexes on family history subjects and Society projects, especially the Lune Valley and Northern Lancashire.
London and the South
	Because the branch is made up of people from a wide area, mostly outside the Central London area, and does not have its own library or collection of records. We do have all fiches issued by LFH&HS - census indexes, memorial inscriptions, church registers etc, but there is unfortunately very little that can be offered which can be of service to overseas members, although we are always pleased to welcome visitors to our meetings and offer informal advice and help.
Pendle and Burnley
	Index to Colne Parish Church: baptisms, burials and marriages to 1812. The 1891 Census Returns for the Superintendent Registrars District of Burnley (Sub Registrars Districts of Burnley, Padiham, Colne and Pendle) Pendle area: Barrowford St. Thomas(CE); Brierfield Providence; Colne St. Bartholomew (CE); Colne Cemetery; Colne Christ Church (CE); Colne Winewall Inghamites; Fence St. Anne (CE); Foulridge (CE); Gt. Marsden St. John (CE); Haggate in Briercliffe (Baptists); Higham (Wesleyan Methodist); Higherford (Methodist); Little Marsden St. Pauls (CE); Newchurch in Pendle St. Mary (CE); Roughlee (Methodist); Salterforth and Barnoldswick Chapels & Dissenters; Trawden (CE); Trawden (Wesleyan Methodist); Trawden Cemetery; Wheatley All Souls Cemetery (RC); Wheatley Lane Inghamite; Wheatley Lane (Methodist) Burnley area: Altham; Briercliffe; Burnley; Hapton; Higham; Holme in Cliviger; Hurstwood; Mereclough; Padiham; Read in Whalley; Sabden; Worsthorne; Colne & Nelson Times War Album (1914-1918)
Preston
	The branch holds four microfiche readers and copies of microfiche produced by the society, including Preston Churches, the 1881 Census of Lancashire and the surrounding counties, and the UK International Genealogical Index by county. The microfiche and microfilm readers can be borrowed by members by arrangement with the microfiche secretary. There is a charge of £2 for the use of the reader which goes toward the cost of replacement bulbs. There is also a refundable deposit for the loan of the microfiche. The branch has a lending library from which books and guides can be borrowed on a monthly basis. There is also a refundable deposit for this service.
Ribble Valley
	We have 3 microfiche readers. Our microfiche holdings include the 1984 version of the IGI for the British Isles; all the society's project work; the 1891 census for the Ribble Valley area and most of Skipton's; The Return of Owners of Land 1873 for the County of the West Riding of Yorkshire. On CD Rom we have the 1881 British census and National Index; 1841 Census for Lancashire; The Reform Act 1832; The National Burial Index (poor for Lancashire). We also have a book library. Book list available. Because we are unable to store any holdings at our branch meeting venue, we require prior notice to a meeting to arrange home loan of any of these items. They should be returned at the following meeting - or collection arranged. A donation for the use of them is much appreciated and goes towards paying speaker fees / travelling expenses. Clitheroe Library holds printed copies of the monumental inscriptions (MIs) surveys we have done within the parliamentary Ribble Valley constituency boundary, as well as some done by other interested people. Other graveyards where we have transcribed the MIs are those at Long Preston, Rathmell, Settle, Giggleswick, Staincliffe, Langcliffe, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Burton-in-Lonsdale, Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Low Bentham, Ingleton, Chapel-le-Dale and Hubberholme.
Rochdale
	The branch holds the 1851 Rochdale Census (Indexed); the Monumental Inscriptions of many churches on microfiche; some transcriptions of baptismal, marriage and burial registers; and a large library containing many books of local interest.
Rossendale
	We have an extensive Library of project work which has been undertaken by our members. Details are available in the microfiche list. We have a continuing programme of census indexing. There is a head of household name index for 1871 and 1861. One for 1891 is near completion. The 1851 is indexed by surname only and has been published in booklet form. Parish and nonconformist registers work is currently being undertaken by volunteers at Rawtenstall Library. Our members have transcribed the Memorial Inscriptions of many local churches, most of these are available on microfiche.