Lancashire Local History Federation

The Lancashire Local History Federation (LLHF) is a British membership organisation that serves as the official coordinating body for local history in the County Palatine of Lancaster. Formed in 1973, it brings together local history societies, family history groups, and individuals with an interest in the history of Lancashire and its surrounding regions. The Federation's stated purpose is to act as a clearing house for the exchange of information and to promote the varied activities that local societies undertake. Its membership spans a wide geographical area, from Tatham in the north to Warrington in the south, and from Fleetwood in the west to Saddleworth in the east, covering the pre-1974 county boundaries and parts of what are now Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and Cumbria. The Federation is one of the largest organisations of its kind in Britain, with a membership of around eighty societies and many individual members. It organises several meetings each year, including Day Schools on topics such as Lancashire Roads and Vernacular Architecture, and an annual 'At Home With' event hosted by a member society. The Federation also publishes regular newsletters and maintains a website that provides resources for local and family history research, including online source guides and research articles. Through these activities, the LLHF supports and connects the many local history societies across Lancashire, helping them to share knowledge and promote public engagement with the county's heritage.

The Lancashire Local History Federation was founded in 1973, at a time of remarkable growth in popular interest in local and family history across Lancashire. Since the early 1970s, individuals throughout the county and beyond became actively involved in research and writing, forming local history groups and societies. Today there is scarcely a town in the County Palatine without a local history society, and several major family history organisations cater to those tracing Lancashire ancestors. The Federation was established so that individuals and societies could work together and share ideas and knowledge. These aims have remained central to its work ever since. Across the pre-1974 county and taking in parts of what are now Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and Cumbria, the LLHF helps coordinate the activities of numerous local and family history societies and organisations that are its members. It acts as a clearing house for the exchange of information and the promotion of the varied activities that local societies undertake. Over the decades, the Federation has grown to become one of the biggest such organisations in Britain, with a large membership of around eighty societies and many more individuals. It holds several meetings each year, including Day Schools on subjects such as Lancashire Roads and Vernacular Architecture, and an annual 'At Home With' event where a member society hosts a day of talks and visits. The Federation also publishes regular newsletters and maintains a website with resources for local and family history research, including online source guides and research articles. Its membership spans from Tatham in the north to Warrington in the south, and from Fleetwood in the west to Saddleworth in the east, reflecting the historic boundaries of Lancashire.

• 2026

  May 2026 Newsletter published.

• 2026

  August 2026 Newsletter published.

• 2025

  May 2025 Newsletter published.

• 2024

  May 2024 Newsletter published.

• 2024

  November 2024 Newsletter published.

• 2023

  August 2023 Newsletter published.

• 2022

  February 2022 Newsletter published.

• 2022

  November 2022 Newsletter published.

• 2021

  August 2021 Newsletter published.

• 1973

  The Lancashire Local History Federation is founded.

The official coordinating body for local history in the County Palatine of Lancaster, acting as a clearing house for information exchange and promoting the activities of local history societies.

• Newsletter

  Regular PDF newsletters with articles and book reviews.

• Day Schools

  Meetings held several times a year on topics such as Lancashire Roads and Vernacular Architecture.

• At Home With

  Annual event hosted by a member society, featuring talks and visits.

• Societies Event Diary

  Online diary listing over 400 meetings taking place over the next twelve months.

• Online research guides

  Guides to online sources for local and family history research.

1. 1Homelancashirehistory.org
2. 2ONLINE SOURCES FOR LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORYlancashirehistory.org
3. 3CHILDREN’S INVESTIGATIONS INTO LOCAL HISTORY: MAKING USE OF ONLINE SOURCESlancashirehistory.org
4. 4About Uslancashirehistory.org
5. 5Lancashire Local History Federationwikidata.org