DFHS Slide 1

Dorset Family History Society

Welcome All Ancestor Hunters!

We are here to help, wherever your ancestors lived or you live. We'll do our best to help you. Dorset Family History Society is a specialist in Dorset ancestry and has access to worldwide resources.

We are here to help you, wherever your ancestors lived and wherever you live. We will do our best to assist you, whatever your level of experience. Obviously, as the Dorset Family History Society, we are specialists in Dorset ancestry, but we also have access to worldwide resources.

DFHS Slide 2

Dorset Family History Society

Welcome All Ancestor Hunters!

Our facilities have experienced and friendly volunteers available to give advice and assistance on research. You can visit our Treetops Research Centre, Contact Us by email or post.

Dorset FHS provides facilities at our Centre where experienced and friendly volunteers are available to give one to one advice and assistance on any research questions and problems. You can either make a personal visit to Treetops Research Centre during our office open hours, or Contact Us by email or post.

DFHS Slide 3

Dorset Family History Society

Welcome All Ancestor Hunters!

Activities can be seen on the Calendar. We have talks on the third Tuesday of each month, (not August), from expert speakers. Locations vary, please check. Our Computer Group meets on Zoom on the first Tuesday.

Details of our activities can be seen on the Calendar. These include a variety of Talks on the third Tuesday in each month, except August, featuring expert speakers. Some of these are at Oakdale, Poole, Dorset and some are held on Zoom. In addition, a Computer Group meets on Zoom on the first Tuesday in most months.

TREETOPS CENTRE

Face-to-face help with your research. How to find us.

MEMBERS’ AREA

Already a Member? Login to the member area here.

EVENTS

Activities, Monthly Talks and Computer Group.

RESEARCH

Support and facilities to help with your research

Dorset Family History Society

Helping You Trace Dorset Ancestry Worldwide

Welcome to the Dorset Family History Society, your trusted partner for discovering, tracing, and preserving your Dorset ancestry. Whether you’re exploring Dorset genealogy from the UK or overseas, we offer expert resources, records, and support to help you uncover your family story.

How can we help?

Dorset FHS provides facilities at our Treetops Research Centre, where experienced and friendly volunteers are available to provide one-to-one advice and assistance on any research questions and problems.

Family Tree 320 x 600 1

1

Talk to your relatives

Quite often your parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts etc. will have knowledge of your family history. Many will have paper records that will allow you to start building your family records.

2

Add to your Family Tree

Here is a Blank Family Tree Template which can be printed and completed by hand with your findings. Will you find many free designs and layouts online. Search ‘family tree templates’.

3

Start your journey

Here’s our “Getting Started” guide.

EDUCATION AT TREETOPS

Find out more about
workshops and learning opportunities.

HELP FORUM

Ask other members for help, guidance and information on family history and related computer matters.

LINKS

Links to useful family history and historical websites.

NEWS

Latest updates from Dorset Family History Society.

Treetops Centre

Our Research Centre is open to anyone, whether your ancestors lived in Dorset, elsewhere in the UK or overseas. You can conduct your own research using our research materials or resources. Or get some help from our volunteers.

Education

Our Introduction to Family History workshop is aimed at those who are starting or have recently started their family history research. We cover topics such as census returns, civil registrations and the GRO index.

Research Service

The Society has a large amount of research materials, including transcriptions and originals. The majority of our records are from Dorset, but material is available from other parts of the UK. If you cannot visit Treetops personally, we provide a research service (fee applies).

Shop With Us

A wide range of items are for sale in our online shop. You can join the Society or renew an existing Membership, buy Publications, pay for research by our experienced Volunteers or make a donation.

Dorset FHS provides you with facilities at our Treetops Research Centre!

Why join a family history society?

Belonging to a family history society can be a great help; giving support with finding how to trace your ancestors or meeting others with a similar interest. FHS’ also offer talks on a range of subjects helpful to the beginner or experienced researcher.

Expert Help

Experienced and friendly volunteers are available to give one to one advice and assistance on any research questions.

Watch our Introduction to DFHS video on YouTube showing how we can help you.

Research Anytime

You can visit Treetops Research Centre, where you can access the major research subscription sites, during our office open hours to do your own personal research, or to get help.

Or you can contact us by email or post.

Our Aims

We promote and encourage the public study of family history, genealogy, heraldry and local history with particular reference to the County of Dorset. Read more here.

Find out more about us on our YouTube Channel.

Dorset Family History Society is a Member of the
Family History Federation.

Treetops Research Centre – Find Us

Address:

Suite 5, Stanley House
3, Fleets Lane
Poole, Dorset
BH15 3AJ

Opening Times:

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.
(Closed Saturday & Monday on Bank Holiday weekends)

Contact Us:

Use our Contact Us Form and Select Department.
Tel: +44 (0)1202 785623 (See opening times)

Visit Us:

Directions to Treetops Research Centre.

By Road from the West (Dorchester)

Follow the A35 towards Poole.

At Townsend Roundabout (Bere Regis), take the 2nd exit and stay on the A35.

At Poole Hill Roundabout, take the 1st exit and stay on the A35.

At the next roundabout (Lychett Minster), take the 2nd exit and stay on the A35.

At Holes Bay N Roundabout, take the 3rd exit on to Holes Bay Rd/A350.

At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit on to Broadstone Way/A349.

At the traffic lights, turn right on to Willis Way.

At the ‘T’ junction, turn right on to Fleets Lane.

Just after Willis Road (on the right), Stanley House is on the right hand side.

By Road from the East (Ringwood)

Follow the A31 towards Wimborne/Bournemouth/Christchurch.

At Palmersford Roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on the A31.

At Ameysford Roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on the A31.

At Merley Roundabout, take the 1st exit on to the A349.

At the next roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Oakley Hill/A349.

At the next roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Gravel Hill/A349.

At the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Waterloo Rd/A349.

At the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit (signed Fleets Industrial Estate) on to Fleets Lane.

Stanley House is about three-quarters of a mile on the right hand side, just after Willis Road (on the right).

By Road from Poole

Follow Holes Bay Road/A350 towards Sterte.

At the first set of lights after the Railway Station, turn right on to Sterte Road.

Continue on to Stanley Green Road.

Continue straight on to Fleets Lane, where Stanley Green Road goes to the right.

Stanley House is about 100 yards on the left hand side.

Parking

Blue Badge holders – please contact us before travelling.

Weekdays – use the local residential roads, particularly Stanley Green Road. Take care not to obstruct the access of local householders.

Saturdays and evenings – there may be limited spaces at Stanley House, but we are not the only occupants.

By Rail – Alight at Poole Station

By Taxi

Arriving on Platform 1 (trains from Weymouth), exit into the Car Park and the Taxi Rank.

Arriving on Platform 2 (trains from London), cross the footbridge to Platform 1, exit into the Car Park and the Taxi Rank.

By Bus

Exit into the Car Park and the Bus Stop. Take the Purbeck Breezer 40, X8 or 10 to Poole Bus Station (10 minutes).

From Poole Bus Station, take either Service 10 (alight at Palmer Road, walk into Fleets Lane, Stanley House is about 100 yards on the left hand side), Services 4, 9 or 25.

For the latter services, alight at the Library, Community Centre or Esso Garage. Walk to the traffic lights and down Vicarage Road. Turn left at Stanley Green Road to Fleets Lane and turn right, where you will see Stanley House opposite. This is probably a 15 minute walk.

By Foot to the Bus Station.

Arriving on Platform 1 (trains from Weymouth), cross the footbridge to Platform 2, exit by the ramp to Holes Bay Road.

Arriving on Platform 2 (trains from London), exit by the ramp to Holes Bay Road.

Turn left and take the underpass following the signs to the Shopping Centre. After exiting the underpass, the Dolphin (shopping) Centre entrance is to the right.

Enter the Dolphin Centre, walk all the way to the other end, take the steps/ramp to the left and exit into Poole Bus Station (BH15 1SP – 10 minutes).

For bus timetables and travel information, visit Morebus or telephone 01202 338 420 (08:00 – 18:30, Mon – Fri).

By Bus

Services from local areas may run directly to Poole Bus Station or through Oakdale. The following routes run closest to Stanley House.

At Oakdale (Routes 4, 8, 9, 25 & 26)

Get off at the Library, Community Centre or Esso Garage. Walk to the traffic lights and down Vicarage Road. Turn left at Stanley Green Road to Fleets Lane and turn right, where you will see Stanley House opposite. This is probably a 15 minute walk.

At Stanley Green (Route 10)

Get off at Palmer Road. Walk towards the junction of Stanley Green Road and Fleets Lane. Stanley House is on the left and less than a 5 minute walk.

For bus timetables and travel information, visit Morebus or telephone 01202 338 420 (0800 – 1830 Mon – Fri).

Links to other Pages:
Events: See information about upcoming talks, workshops, and meetings.
About Us: Learn more about our mission and history.
Membership: Join our family history community.
Research Help: Get expert guidance for tracing Dorset ancestors.
Useful Links: Explore trusted genealogy resources.
Volunteer with Us: Whether you can offer a few hours now and then, or on a more regular basis, we can make use of your knowledge and skills!