Even if you cannot get to the library read the leaflet and ask yourself ‘have I compiled the details someone else needs to be able to help me?’ Suppose you decide to employ a professional researcher, the more poorly presented the information the more it will cost you. Time is money.

Similarly, the more poorly presented to our volunteers the more time it will take and the less enthusiastic they will be to help solve the problem. It also means you will use up the time they have to help others.

Please take care as poorly presented information makes if difficult for the researches to find and confirm data is correct

The meetings are a one-way dialogue and of general subjects. There is a Q and A session at the end of each talk. When you arrive at a meeting ask at the reception desk for someone who may be able to answer your questions. Alternatively visit the help desk. The more people you talk to the more help you will get or ideas on possible sources.

The workshops provide a two-way dialogue and can be aimed at more specific subjects. For workshops speak or email the workshop coordinator, workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk to suggest subjects for which you need help. We appreciate this service is not available for out of area or overseas members, but perhaps once a subject is covered a summary or set of notes can be produced for members. It will depend on the workshop leader, but if you don’t ask…

The answers may also help others in their family research and perhaps they were too shy to ask themselves.

Why not write and ask if they are willing to publish a short well-presented family query. Email emailinfoservice@nwkfhs.org.k and ask if your query can be included.

These can be found on our eshop pages. One publication that is a must; according to one of our task holders; is ‘West Kent Sources, A guide to Family and Local History Research in the Diocese of Rochester.’ The paper copies are of the third edition. It covers all parishes in the Diocese of Rochester, which extends west of the River Medway.

The Society has also published ‘School Records, A supplement to West Kent Sources, A guide to the locations of school records in the Diocese of Rochester’ published in 2004.

[Do not worry if your ancestors strayed east of the river Medway as David Wright has written and published a companion volume ‘East Kent parishes, a guide for genealogists, local historians and other researchers in the diocese of Canterbury’. It covers the remaining area of Kent].

These aids are useful irrespective of what county their families lived. These pages are single A4 pdf leaflets that can be downloaded from this site (see below) at no charge to members. Templates for birth briefs and record keeping sheets are also available.