Local history groups are amazing resources! They can help you trace your family history, learn about towns and villages, and discover stories about the people who came before us. Many of these groups share journals and Facebook pages and hold regular meetings open to everyone.
If you’ve ever wondered who stewards old parish records or champions historic buildings and collects stories from community elders, it’s likely one of these enthusiastic groups.
Scotland’s rich history lives on in museums, community halls, heritage centres, and even in the warmth of living rooms. Ifyou’ree eager to dive deeper, could you connect with a local group near you?
The Scottish Local History Forum – The umbrella organisation for all individuals and organisations interested in local history in Scotland.
Scottish Local History Groups and Societies
Angus
Kinnettles District and Heritage Group – by Forfar
Argyll & Bute
Arrochar, Tarbet & Ardlui Heritage Group
Ayrshire & Arran
Dumfries & Galloway
Edinburgh
The Leith Local History Society website explores Leith’s heritage as a major Scottish port and a community with a strong identity. It places particular emphasis on the lives of ordinary people who worked in the docks and local industries, alongside the area’s maritime, industrial, social and transport history.
The society was founded in September 1999 and holds monthly talks from September to May, bringing people together to learn about the area’s past.
The website also provides a broad collection of local history material, covering historic buildings, bridges, churches, businesses, notable people and personal recollections. Visitors can explore subjects such as Leith’s trams, nautical college, fortifications and docks, with additional links to historical postcards, a timeline, maps, a guidebook and research sources.
Overall, it serves as both an introduction for curious visitors and a useful starting point for anyone researching Leith’s people and places.
Falkirk
Falkirk Local History Society – Founded in 1981, the Society is a vibrant community for all who cherish the rich history of the Falkirk area, once known as East Stirlingshire. Now, it is embracing the historic town of Bo’ness and its charming neighbouring villages, which have been part of the Falkirk District since 1975. With over 200 enthusiastic members, the Society is deeply engaged in various activities, including exciting research and publishing.
Glasgow
Cathcart Circle Architecture – All the buildings featured in this exploration of the architecture of Glasgow’s southern suburbs can be visited from stations on the Cathcart Circle railway line.
Lanarkshire
Perth & Kinross
Abertay Historical Society – Promoting the history of Angus, Fife and Perthshire.
Dunning Parish Historical Society
Scottish Local History Groups and Societies
Angus
Kinnettles District and Heritage Group – by Forfar
Argyll & Bute
Arrochar, Tarbet & Ardlui Heritage Group
Ayrshire & Arran
Dumfries & Galloway
Edinburgh
The Leith Local History Society website explores Leith’s heritage as a major Scottish port and a community with a strong identity. It places particular emphasis on the lives of ordinary people who worked in the docks and local industries, alongside the area’s maritime, industrial, social and transport history.
The society was founded in September 1999 and holds monthly talks from September to May, bringing people together to learn about the area’s past.
The website also provides a broad collection of local history material, covering historic buildings, bridges, churches, businesses, notable people and personal recollections. Visitors can explore subjects such as Leith’s trams, nautical college, fortifications and docks, with additional links to historical postcards, a timeline, maps, a guidebook and research sources.
Overall, it serves as both an introduction for curious visitors and a useful starting point for anyone researching Leith’s people and places.
Falkirk
Falkirk Local History Society – Founded in 1981, the Society is a vibrant community for all who cherish the rich history of the Falkirk area, once known as East Stirlingshire. It now embraces the historic town of Bo’ness and its charming neighbouring villages, which have been part of the Falkirk District since 1975. With over 200 enthusiastic members, the Society is deeply engaged in various activities, including exciting research and publishing.
Glasgow
Cathcart Circle Architecture – All the buildings featured in this exploration of the architecture of Glasgow’s southern suburbs can be visited from stations on the Cathcart Circle railway line.
Lanarkshire
Perth & Kinross
Abertay Historical Society – Promoting the history of Angus, Fife and Perthshire.
Dunning Parish Historical Society
Stirling
Women’s History Scotland – Promoting study and research inwomen’ss and gender history in Scotland
History Scotland Magazine – Explore Scotland’s incredible past.
