As I reflect on a tumultuous year in which Your Local History has gradually grown from a idea into a successful business; in which my old career was shattered by the spending review; in which I have spent many months in an ‘un-chosen’ job and finally achieved my longstanding dream of working full time inContinueContinue reading “Working lives: choices, opportunities and that beyond our control”
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Stitches in time: tracking elusive cousins (part two)
Good evening! Welcome back to my blog about elusive cousins – investigating common themes which complicate the search for relatives. This time I’ll be looking at some examples of relocation and deaths of key family members as well as re-introducing you to a ‘rogue’ in my family tree. It’s a common belief that people didn’tContinueContinue reading “Stitches in time: tracking elusive cousins (part two)”
Stitches in time: tracking elusive cousins (part one)
During the last week I’ve been looking into a sometimes neglected branch of my family tree – the living elements! This has meant following my own advice and asking relatives what they know about their cousins, nieces and nephews. Specifically, I’ve been trying to collect information about my second cousins, most of whom I haveContinueContinue reading “Stitches in time: tracking elusive cousins (part one)”
A teddy bear: what’s in your suitcase?
A recent Norfolk Refugee Week display posed the question ‘what would you pack in your suitcase?’ The query was getting at what you might grab at the last minute before leaving your home forever to embark on a new life in a different country with a potentially alien culture. It got me thinking about theContinueContinue reading “A teddy bear: what’s in your suitcase?”
Snakes and Ladders: the clues and crimson fish hiding in first names
These days most parents seem to spend weeks reading baby name books, discussing naming options and trying out short-listed forenames on friends and family. Many even debate as far as the particular spelling of the name, the possibility of initials being a acronym for something less than pleasant, and whether the name works in allContinueContinue reading “Snakes and Ladders: the clues and crimson fish hiding in first names”
Can family history ever get too personal?
An interesting question to ponder. Would your ancestors have appreciated you finding out about their illegitimate children, their brushes with the law, their personal tragedy? Virtually all family historians, whatever their level of interest, research because they enjoy finding out more about their ancestors, more about ‘where they come from’. But what happens when youContinueContinue reading “Can family history ever get too personal?”
My mantra: 200 year old advice from a Norfolk yeoman
I have a ‘motto’ stuck to the divider around my desk. When I was about ten I diligently learnt it off by heart and have tried to live by the sentiments ever since. The motto came from a family letter written by my Great Great Great Grandfather’s brother and I first became aware of itContinueContinue reading “My mantra: 200 year old advice from a Norfolk yeoman”
A drink on them: Pubs and Breweries of Norwich past
It was with sadness that I noted another pub – The Marquee in Norwich – closing its doors a week or so ago. Once the Shirehall and then the One & Only, the Marquee provided a haunt for me throughout university and since. Unfortunately it’s not such an unusual occurrence these days to hear aboutContinueContinue reading “A drink on them: Pubs and Breweries of Norwich past”
What’s in my name? In the footsteps of my namesakes.
It’s very odd to see your name on a gravestone. The first time this happened to me I was still at Primary School, exploring the old stomping grounds of my family with my parents. It was a weird sensation. More recently I have been back to the same churches, taken photographs and done a lotContinueContinue reading “What’s in my name? In the footsteps of my namesakes.”
Aunt Carrie: School Mistress at Framlingham, civilian on the town memorial
Day three of my week of ancestor blogs brings me to my first foray into my maternal family history and a civilian on Framlingham’s war memorial, my Aunt Carrie. Framlingham is close to my heart. It’s where I lived for the first two years of my life, where I went to high school and whereContinueContinue reading “Aunt Carrie: School Mistress at Framlingham, civilian on the town memorial”
Elizabeth Walne's Your Local History 