Parish chest records

Before the introduction of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales in 1837, it is the parochial registers recording the baptisms, marriages and burials of our ancestors

This is the first of a series of articles; the intention being to provide an overview of useful family and local history records in existence, with advice on where to find them. The articles will incl

On 10 August 1948 Felix Hull became Berkshire’s first county archivist. He was working out of the basement of Reading’s old Shire Hall, now the Roseate Hotel, and collections under his care eventually

Many of us have enjoyed a day out at one of Britain’s country houses. They are both beautiful to look at, and fascinating landmarks to our history. Holland House, built in what was then countryside ou

Ironmongers’ Hall, London EC2 The home of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers

Home to a veritable ‘Noah’s Ark of species’, thanks to never being ploughed, sprayed or fertilised, our churchyards are a sacred haven for flora and fauna