WEST ESSEX BRANCH, HARLOW

Where we meet:
The Branch meets at the St. John's Arts & Recreation Centre, Market Street, Harlow, CM17 0AJ .
This building is the former St John the Baptist church which has been converted into a well used recreation centre.  It is an appropriate building for family historians to meet.

When we meet:
The Branch meets on the first Saturday of each month.
Doors open at 2.15 pm so that members can discuss their research and make use of our facilities.  These comprise of a library of genealogy books, available for loan to Society members, and internet access where we can give help in using on line sources, including our Society databases
Our talks start at 2.45 pm.  They last for about one hour, followed by refreshments and discussion.

All are welcome at the meetings, so come along and meet other family historians.

Our Programme:
The programme of meetings can also be seen on our 'ESFH Events' page.

1 February 2020 The Bishop's Stortford Union Workhouse by Bill Hardy

The story of the union workhouse for the parishes across the Hertfordshire/Essex border, includes The Hallingburys and Stansted.

7 March 2020     Postmen, Customs Officers and other of that Ilk by Alan Ruston

 How to find that interesting ancestor and to examine the life that they may have lived in dangerous and uncertain times.

 4 April 2020      The Poor Law 1500 by Susie Croft

A new speaker to the branch recommended for giving an interesting and informative talk about a Law a majority of ancestors had dealings with..

2 May 2020         How our Ancestors Died by Mark Carroll

Through the centuries causes of death have varied enormously in line with the social conditions of the day. You can learn a lot about family circumstances in the past by studying death certificates and related documents, although the medical terms used can be perplexing. In this talk I conduct a historical survey of mortality and morbidity in relation to family history and social research, by drawing on examples taken from my own family. I also point to useful sources for studying these genealogical and related topics.

6 June 2020        To be announced

4 July 2020         An Enumerators Tale by Mery Catty

Come and listen to the Enumerator taking the details from a householder so that the census form can be completed.

1 August 2020     To be announced

5 September         Annual General Meeting followed by a talk to be announced.

 Reports of previous Talks:

Don't forget to look at the 'Reports' of talks that we have enjoyed at recent meetings.

Our People:
Chairman - Miss Elizabeth Cox, 9 Riverside Court, Cambridge Road, Harlow, Essex CM20 2AD
Telephone - UK 01279 434267 International +44 1279 434267
E-mail - emt.cox2@btinternet.com

Secretary - Mrs Sue Spiller, 31 Ash Tree Field, Harlow, CM20 1QD
E-mail - suespiller@yahoo.co.uk

Local Information:
Each of our Branches has a volunteer contact (click "Contact Us" at the top of this page)  who is able to provide help and information to members by e-mail regarding the area covered by the Branch. Our Harlow Branch covers Harlow. Epping, Ongar, Hatfield Heath, Hatfield Broad Oak and the villages in between and the contact for these enquiries is Mrs Sue Spiller at suespiller@yahoo.co.uk

News etc from West Essex (Harlow) branch may now also be found on Facebook at

West Essex Branch ( Harlow ) Essex Society for Family History 

Don't forget to look at the reports from some of our recent meetings.
Last updated: 10/01/2020 08:20:00