All articles in Local & Family History
13th April, 2023 in Local & Family History
A potted history of Worcestershire
Vanessa Morgan author of new book The Little History of Worcestershire traces the potted history of Worcestershire. Many years ago, when I was a youngster at school, I remember a teacher telling the class that Great Britain resembled a man riding a pig. So if that’s the…
29th March, 2023 in Biography & Memoir, Local & Family History
My Disappearing Uncle: A scattered family history
Among the assortment of things I’d inherited from the ancestors – the big forehead, height, double-jointed fingers, a tendency to sadness, a cupboard full of tins and the certainty of belonging to more than one place (or was it no place at all?) – stories were everywhere. There…
11th November, 2022 in Local & Family History
10 Hampshire pioneers who changed the world
Each county has a few inspiring pioneers if you look hard enough, but Hampshire, with it’s royal heritage, naval base, maritime and aviation industry and beautiful natural assets is a fertile ground for inspiring world-changers. Here are just a few… 1. Gilbert White Admired by…
14th October, 2022 in History, Local & Family History
Haunted historic houses and castles in the UK
Get ready to channel all things spooky as we run through some of the most haunted houses and castles in the UK and explore the real history behind the ghost stories. Blickling Hall, Norfolk This beautiful grand Norfolk residence is home to one of history’s most famous phantoms: A…
25th July, 2022 in History, Local & Family History
Re-enactment and research: How modern recreations can help us visualise the past
John Fletcher author of The Western Kingdom: The Birth of Cornwall discusses re-enactment and its relation to research and history. There is something extremely visceral, extremely real, about holding a sword. When you feel the weight of the blade and the rough leather of the gri…
21st July, 2022 in Local & Family History
Teach Yourself Palaeography: Five top tips for reading old handwriting
Anyone who is interested in genealogy as a serious pursuit will eventually need to tackle the abundance of records that either add interesting context to a family history, or extend research back to the sixteenth century or earlier. This will inevitably mean addressing the docume…
1st July, 2022 in Local & Family History, Natural World
Life on the edge of land and sea in Norfolk
Ajay Tegala author of The Unique Life of a Ranger gives us a glimpse into life at Blakeney Point in Norfolk. If you’re anything like me, then you’ll always be looking for an excuse to head to the coast. There’s something soothing and restorative about waves gently lapping on the…
10th June, 2022 in Local & Family History
A brief history of Somerset
Find out more about Somerset, the seventh largest county in England by area. A place full of history, mystery, myths and legends. Joseph of Arimathea, for example, is said to have visited Glastonbury with the young Jesus. Legend also has it that he planted his walking staff on We…
11th April, 2022 in Local & Family History, Society & Culture
Ask the author: Mark B Roe discusses the Dublin Foundling Hospital
The Dublin Foundling Hospital is the subject of a fascinating new book The Least of These by Mark B Roe. We caught up with the author to ask him about his approach to the work. Why did you find the story of the Dublin Foundling Hospital so compelling? Firstly, its sheer scal…
25th March, 2022 in Local & Family History, Military
My Grandfather’s Knife: How ordinary objects tell extraordinary wartime stories
A knife, a diary, a recipe book, a string instrument, and a cotton pouch. Each belonged to an individual in their twenties during the Second World War: I talked to elderly family members, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances – people drawn from everyday life – asking them the s…
26th January, 2022 in Local & Family History, Military
Norwich in the Second World War
Neil R. Storey author of Norwich in the Second World War tells the story of the city and its people, as far as possible, in the words of those who were actually there. When the acclaimed Norfolk author George Borrow described Norwich as ‘a fine old city’ in the nineteenth century…
10th January, 2022 in Local & Family History, Society & Culture
Workhouse buildings – whatever happened to them all?
Historian and author Peter Higginbotham showcases the history of workhouse buildings. Read more in his latest book Workhouses of Wales and the Welsh Borders including new research on the many parish and union workhouses that operated in that area of the UK. Facilities that we wou…