Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum by Dean Kirby (P&S History, 2016) Dean Kirby’s immersive exploration of Manchester’s Angel Meadow slum in the Victorian era is a compelling journey into one of the most notorious and dangerous neighbourhoods of the Industrial Revolution. In his meticulously researched book, Kirby, drawing on his journalistic background, vividly resurrects the scenes and characters that define this grim chapter in history. The book is thoughtfully structured around real events, offering readers a glimpse into the shocking and colourful stories that unfolde ..read more

Rural: The Lives of the Working Class Countryside by Rebecca Smith (HarperCollins, 2023) The publisher’s blurb describes this as “a book for anyone who loves and longs for the countryside, whose family owes something to a bygone trade, or who is interested in the future of rural Britain.” Many of us love the countryside but with 82.9% of England’s population, 83% of Scotland and around 80% of Wales (2019) living in urban areas, Britons may seem more detached than ever from rural life. Those of us with UK ancestors are likely to have at least some forebears living in the countryside in the fir ..read more

After The War: From Auschwitz To Ambleside by Tom Palmer (Barrington Stoke, 2020) Anyone who watched BBC TV’s drama, The Windermere Children, or its accompanying documentary cannot fail to have been moved by the true story of the young survivors of the Holocaust, the care they received in the Lake District, and their eventual (and remarkable) joy, enthusiasm and life-long friendships. Experienced children’s author, Tom Palmer, was so inspired by the children’s stories that he approached Trevor Avery BEM of the Lake District Holocaust Project to ask if he could write a book about the Jewish ch ..read more

Immigrant Secrets: The Search for My Grandparents by John Mancini (2022) That John Mancini is an experienced speaker in his professional life is apparent in the engaging presentation style of his writing. His entertaining introduction, with its references to the TV show The Wonder Years and Kevin Costner’s movie Field of Dreams, indicates his fondness for imaginative storytelling.  All family historians and memoir writers must choose how best to relate the truth of their or their subjects’ experiences. The main section of the book is fictionalised (in the manner of Paula McLain’s The Par ..read more

As a child, I was lucky enough to grow up with one set of grandparents and regularly holiday with the others. Although my grandparents were happy to share details of their childhoods, some were particularly reluctant to answer questions about their families. After years of exploring my family tree and making contacts through events and social media, I’ve learned some of the reasons behind their secrets. My last surviving grandparent sadly died last year, and now there is no one of that generation left to ask. There is so much I have learned over the years that I wish I could share with my gra ..read more

As part of DNA Day 2018 on 25 April, 23andMe offered AncestryDNA users the chance to upload their raw DNA for free. 23andMe is the only major genetic genealogy testing company with which I haven’t tested. When I saw a tweet from @AtcherleyONS saying the offer was about to run out, I jumped at the chance. After a couple of false starts and a complaint email to 23andMe, I was able to upload the DNA. I received my four free reports a short time later. 23andMe is unique for being the only major family history DNA testing company that offers health reports. My free reports included two Wellnes ..read more