Stories about local history, places, churches, communities and heritage - from historical research and discoveries to places we've visited.
We explore records, forgotten stories and wider historical themes. Other posts are informative, looking at the records, tools and sources that can help uncover family and local history.
You will also find church visits, historic places, memorials, and unexpected pieces of history discovered on our travels, in Wales and further afield.
Hidden beneath the cliffs of the Pembrokeshire coast, St Govan's Chapel is one of Wales' most remarkable historic sites. Discover the legends of St Govan, the mysterious Bell Stone, the healing well and the famous steps that never seem to add up to the same number twice.
The 1939 Register is one of the most valuable resources available to family historians. Discover what information it contains, why some records remain closed and how it can help bridge the gap between the 1921 and 1951 censuses.
Britain’s first lager was brewed in Wrexham. From Victorian German founders and North Wales water to the Titanic, Khartoum, football chants and modern revival, this is the remarkable story of Wrexham Lager.
Census records offer one of the richest windows into the lives of our ancestors. Taken every ten years, they reveal households, occupations, and changing family lives across generations. This article explores what the UK censuses from 1841 to 1921 can tell us, and how a single return can help bring family history to life.
When I first started my family tree, I thought I was being careful—until I trusted a well-researched tree that quietly sent an entire branch in the wrong direction. Two first cousins, the same name, the same birth year, and the same village.
Read the blog to see how I untangled it—and what I learned along the way.
A practical introduction to family history research, focused on taking the first step, where to begin, and how to start building your family story step by step.
A reflective post about the role AI tools can play in family history research. Used thoughtfully, they can help us plan next steps, explore historical context, organise notes, and shape family stories. They don’t replace original records or careful research — but they can offer guidance, inspiration, and a fresh way of thinking along the research journey.
The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial commemorates Jews who were murdered on this stretch of river during the winter of 1944–45. They were killed by members of the Arrow Cross Party, a Hungarian fascist militia operating during the final months of the Second World War.
A moving encounter with the World War I Ossuary at Passo Tonale, reminding me that history and sacrifice are never far from the places we travel for pleasure.
Welsh patronymic naming is frequently misunderstood by modern indexes. Two Selattyn baptisms show how transcription errors can mislead genealogy research.
