Durham Societies

Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources, or support its efforts.

Addresses of the societies are for the most part where their meetings are held as they are by-and-large not brick-and-mortar institutions.

Regional Societies
Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland Elvet Riverside Room 140 83 New Elvet Durham, County Durham DH1 3 UK Email: [mailto:archandarch.dandn@dur.ac.uk archandarch.dandn@dur.ac.uk] Website: Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland


 * Based in Durham, but with interests throughout the region, the Society aims to provide an opportunity for all those interested in archaeology and architectural history.

Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Family History Society Meetings are held at three venues - click here Email: [mailto:secretary@clevelandfhs.org.uk secretary@clevelandfhs.org.uk] Website: Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Family History Society


 * The Aims of the Society are to promote the study of genealogy and family history and to educate the public therein by holding meetings, sharing information, encouraging research, giving assistance and producing publications for the public benefit.

North-Eastern Catholic History Society St Joseph’s High Street West Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 1LX UK Telephone: 0191 270 1065 Email: [mailto:margaret@coopuk.com margaret@coopuk.com] Website: North-Eastern Catholic History Society


 * This society was founded in 1974 to promote research into the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the north-eastern counties of England.

Northumberland & Durham Family History Society Alnwick Bailiffgate Museum 14 Bailiffgate Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1LX Email: [mailto:alnwickbranch@ndfhs.org.uk alnwickbranch@ndfhs.org.uk] Belford Bell View Resource Centre 33 West Street Belford, Northumberland NE70 7QF UK Email: [mailto:north.northumberlandbranch@ndfhs.org.uk north.northumberlandbranch@ndfhs.org.uk] Blyth Briardale Training and Community Centre Briardale Road Blyth, Northumberland NE24 5LA UK Email: [mailto:blythbranch@ndfhs.org.uk blythbranch@ndfhs.org.uk] Belmont (Durham) Belmont Community Centre Sunderland Road Gilesgate, Durham DH1 2LL UK Email: [mailto:durham-belmontbranch@ndfhs.org.uk durham-belmontbranch@ndfhs.org.uk] Hexham Community Centre Gilesgate Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3NP UK Email: [mailto:tynedalebranch@ndfhs.org.uk tynedalebranch@ndfhs.org.uk] London The Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road London EC1M 7BA UK Email: [mailto:londonbranch@ndfhs.org.uk londonbranch@ndfhs.org.uk] Newcastle Room 3, Brunswick Chapel Northumberland Court Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 7BJ UK Email: [mailto:newcastlebranch@ndfhs.org.uk newcastlebranch@ndfhs.org.uk] Pegswood (Morpeth) Pegswood Community Hub Longhirst Road Pegswood Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 6XG UK Email: [mailto:wansbeckbranch@ndfhs.org.uk wansbeckbranch@ndfhs.org.uk] North Shields Northumberland Square North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE30 1QU UK Email: [mailto:northtynesidebranch@ndfhs.org.uk northtynesidebranch@ndfhs.org.uk] South Shields St. Hilda’s Visitor Centre Market Place South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE33 1AN UK Email: [mailto:southtynesidebranch@ndfhs.org.uk southtynesidebranch@ndfhs.org.uk] Telephone: 0191 261 2159 Email: [mailto:chairman@ndfhs.org.uk chairman@ndfhs.org.uk] Website: Northumberland & Durham Family History Society


 * The Society, founded in 1975, promotes interest in family history amongst its members and the general public. We have branches in Alnwick, Belford, Blyth, Belmont (Durham), Hexham, London, Newcastle, Pegswood (Morpeth), North Shields, and South Shields.

The Surtees Society Telephone: 0191 334 1048 E-mail: [mailto:surtees.society@durham.ac.uk surtees.society@durham.ac.uk] Website: The Surtees Society


 * The Surtees Society is dedicated to the publication of manuscripts illustrative of the history of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, principally of County Durham and Northumberland in North East England.

Wesley Historical Society - North East Methodist History Society Telephone: 01434 608733 Website: Wesley Historical Society - North East Methodist History Society


 * The aims of the Society laid down in 1893 were to promote the study of the history and literature of early Methodism, research into the Wesley's, and investigation into the beginnings and development of Methodism. The Society aims to encourage an informed interest in the life and work of John and Charles Wesley, in Methodist history in general, in chapels and their architecture, and in the broader patterns of English religious history, especially in the counties of Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland.  Area: Durham, Northumberland, and The North Riding.

Durham Societies
Annfield Plain Family History Society Annfield Plain Library North Road Annfield Plain Stanley, County Durham DH9 8EZ UK Telephone: 07903 772965 Website: Annfield Plain Family History Society


 * We are a group of like-minded people with an interest in Family & Local History, based in Annfield Plain but covering the history of the whole of North West Durham.

Aycliffe Village Local History Society Aycliffe Village Hall 9-12 North Terrace Aycliffe Village Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 6LF UK Email: [mailto:vivienellis@btinternet.com vivienellis@btinternet.com] Website: Aycliffe Village Local History Society


 * The Society is for anyone interested in local history, especially that of the Great Aycliffe area.

Cleveland & Teeside Local History Society Middlesbrough College Dock Street Middlesbrough, Yorkshire TS2 1AD UK E-mail: [mailto:martin@peagam.co.uk martin@peagam.co.uk] Website: Cleveland & Teeside Local History Society


 * The Society, which was formed in 1968, takes an active part in preserving our heritage. We promote various projects in local history and offer advice. We maintain links with local archives, libraries, museums, and groups connected with archaeology, family history, and industrial archaeology.

Gateshead Local History Society Gateshead Library Prince Consort Rd Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 4LN UK Telephone: 0191 5970805 Email: [mailto:gatesheadlhs@gmail.com gatesheadlhs@gmail.com] Website: Gateshead Local History Society


 * We are a group of Gateshead residents who enjoy meeting up to discuss local history.

Lanchester Local History Society Lanchester Community Centre Newbiggin Lane Lanchester, County Durham DH70JQ UK Telephone: 01207 529085 Email: [mailto:mdaap@durham.gov.uk mdaap@durham.gov.uk] Website: Lanchester Local History Society


 * The Society has a programme of talks given by well-known speakers on a variety of wide-ranging historical topics, usually of northern origin and interest.

St Mary's Heritage Group St Mary's Heritage Centre Oakwellgate Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE8 2AU UK Telephone: 0191 433 4699 Email: [mailto:smhgg@hotmail.co.uk smhgg@hotmail.co.uk] Website: St Mary's Heritage Group


 * Our Group is made up of all volunteers, passionate about the history of St Mary’s and the surrounding area. We can help with family history research, utilising St Mary’s archives and parish records, and we are continually researching the history of the building, the people associated with St Mary’s, and those buried in the graveyard.

Sunderland Antiquarian Society 6 Douro Terrace Sunderland, SR2 7DX UK Telephone: 01915101923 Email: [mailto:p11cur@sky.com p11cur@sky.com] Website: Sunderland Antiquarian Society


 * The Society was founded in 1900 and by publications, research, and meetings, encourages interest in the history of Sunderland and its region. The Society holds extensive archives which have been amassed and donated over the past century by the people of Sunderland and these are available to members and visitors.

Sunniside Local History Society Sunniside Social Club Sunniside Rd Sunniside Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE165NA UK Email: [mailto:sun1h1st@gmail.com sun1h1st@gmail.com] Website: Sunniside Local History Society


 * We are an extremely active history society with over 120 members.

Teesside Archaeological Society Stockton Central Library Church Rd Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham TS18 1TU UK Email: [mailto:teesarchsoc.news@gmail.com teesarchsoc.news@gmail.com] Website: Teesside Archaeological Society


 * We’re an enthusiastic, friendly group who share a passion for the rich, distinctive heritage of the Tees Valley and Cleveland, with more than 10,000 years of archaeology – evidence for past human activity – on our doorstep!

Washington History Society MIND Building Grasmere Terrace Columbia Washington, Tyne & Wear NE38 7LP UK Telephone: 07736 010203 Website: Washington History Society


 * Washington History Society is an informal group of people who work together to keep the history of Washington alive. We collect and preserve photographs, documents and memorabilia, while taking an active part in raising awareness of the town's heritage through talks and exhibitions. Washington history covers over 800 years and the Old Hall was home to the ancestors from which the 1st President of the United States, George Washington, inherited his name.

Winlaton & District Local History Society West End Club West Lane Winlaton Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE21 6PQ UK Email: [mailto:winlatonhistorysociety@yahoo.com winlatonhistorysociety@yahoo.com] Website: Winlaton & District Local History Society


 * The society was formed in 1970 by a group of twelve members with the aim of researching and promoting the history of the local area.