Making Scottish Borders Ancestry More Accessible Online
Internet Creation partnered with Borders Family History Society to create a modern website that helps researchers in Scotland and around the world discover their ancestral connections to the Scottish Borders.
The platform brings membership, historical records, research support, events and specialist publications together within an accessible digital resource designed for both experienced genealogists and those beginning their family-history journey.
About the Client
Borders Family History Society helps people trace their ancestry across the historic Scottish Border counties of Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire, as well as neighbouring areas.
The Society operates a research centre in Galashiels, supports remote research enquiries and provides access to an extensive collection of historical records, publications and genealogy resources. A significant proportion of its membership is based overseas, highlighting the international interest in Scottish Borders ancestry.
Project Overview
The objective was to replace a complex and content-heavy online presence with a modern platform that made the Society's resources easier to discover and manage.
The website needed to support members, researchers, volunteers and international visitors while giving the Society a practical way to publish events, news, research tools and products.
The Brief
The website needed to:
- Promote Society membership
- Improve access to genealogy research services
- Present thousands of historical records clearly
- Support remote and in-person researchers
- Sell specialist publications online
- Promote talks, events and Society news
- Provide secure member access
- Create a flexible platform for future databases
- Make a large archive easier to navigate
Our Solution
Internet Creation designed and developed a bespoke WordPress website structured around the Society's core activities: membership, research, events, news and publications.
The new architecture makes it easier for visitors to understand where to begin, whether they want to join, request research assistance, visit the Galashiels centre or search available resources.
Membership benefits are presented clearly, including access to research support, discounts on selected publications and the Society's magazine.
The website also supports searchable historical content. The magazine article index, for example, provides access to more than 1,000 articles published since the Society's first magazine edition in 1985.
Key Features
- Bespoke heritage website design
- WordPress CMS
- Membership information and access
- Online shop for publications
- Research service information
- Searchable magazine article index
- Events and talks
- News management
- Research centre information
- Contact and research enquiry forms
- Member login
- Expandable resource and database structure
User Experience
Family-history websites often contain large volumes of specialist material accumulated over many years.
The website has been organised to help users move from a broad research question towards the correct records, publications or support service.
Clear navigation makes it easy for new visitors to understand what the Society offers, while experienced researchers can access specialist resources and searchable indexes more directly.
This balance is particularly important for an organisation serving both local visitors and overseas members.
Results & Outcomes
The completed website gives Borders Family History Society a modern platform for preserving and sharing valuable historical information.
- Improved access to research services and records
- Clearer presentation of membership benefits
- Better visibility for specialist publications
- A more accessible experience for overseas researchers
- Searchable access to a substantial magazine archive
- Flexible tools for managing news, events and resources
- A scalable structure for future genealogy databases
- Stronger digital support for the Society's volunteers and research team
Why This Project Matters
Family-history societies preserve records and knowledge that may not be available anywhere else.
The Borders Family History Society website demonstrates how digital design can make these resources more accessible without losing the depth and specialist character valued by experienced researchers.
It also supports the long-term preservation of local heritage by helping the Society reach new members and connect with descendants of Borders families throughout the world.
What the site is built on.
Bring Your Heritage Organisation Online
Internet Creation develops accessible websites for heritage organisations, charities and membership bodies that need to manage valuable resources, engage members and reach audiences around the world.