Book of emigrants’ letters, 1857–1874

The Society of Writers to His Majesty’s Signet, better known as the WS Society, is an incorporated body of Scottish solicitors that was founded in 1594. The society owns the neoclassical Signet Librar

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

This World Mental Health Day (10 October), take a moment to reflect on the experiences of our ancestors who were mentally ill. How were they looked after, and where? Before the mid-18th century, the U

John Hoyland never misses a chance to scour a second-hand bookshop for old gardening books, not only for advice, but for a glimpse into past gardening lives

Dear Simon, I have only just got around to reading your June issue with its piece by Cardinal Cox about the relatively modern origins of some supposedly old customs. He refers to Lady Raglan and the G

Take a step back in time in the studio of Princetown Press, where Jon Palmer and Emma Hogbin are determined to keep alive the endangered letterpress heritage craft