Investigating our ancestors' wills

This is one in a series of articles; the intention is to provide an overview of useful family and local history records in existence, covering the period 1066-1485. Each article can be enjoyed as a st

Unusually, my story begins at the end with the perplexing death certificate of my great grandfather William Taylor. William died aged 71 in May 1938, in Gosport, Hampshire, and the death was registere

A good knowledge of geography is important for many aspects of our research. Can you arrange these six English towns from north to south?: Chester Gloucester Leicester Manchester Rochester Worcester I

In wine, it’s never a given that the younger generation will take the reins from their parents. Or that it will run smoothly if they do. The 10 success stories that follow give an insight into some of the common challenges faced along the way

Exploring the tangled roots of a family tree is rarely straightforward. What begins as a search for dates and names often unravels into something far more. A bit like rummaging through an old attic –

There are ways to give money without liability for inheritance tax, says Paul Lewis