My website features my studies for an MSc in English Local History (completed in 2011), stories from the Local History of Berkhamsted, my extended Family History from Chirk in North Wales, Shropshire, Norwich, Ipswich, Kent, Orkney and as far as Canada and House Histories in Berkhamsted. Local history also permeates my family stories, with closer looks at Norwich Yards, Bagley Bridge, Bodkin Row, Frankwell and Shrewsbury Gaol.

As you dream of a River Cottage Christmas, check out the (distant) connections between the Anthonys of Chenies and the Whittingstall family of Watford brewery fame.

The header images are glimpses of my Travels Through Time: Cooper House in Berkhamsted, the Dingle in Shrewsbury, the Ribeira de Bensafrim in Lagos Portugal, the Sal River in Goa, a seascape in Odeceixe Portugal and a snowy view of Honningsvåg in Norway.

Find out about what happened along the Grand Junction Canal via this interactive map based on locks 46 to 56. The history of our town comes to life with kids being rescued, “water gipsies” scraping a living on the narrowboats, criminals hustling and the Port of Berkhamsted bustling. Just click on this link.

The Orkney & Shetland Explorer tour was advertised as “at a gentle pace”! Starting at Stirling, Northlink ferry to Shetland overnight, Jarlshof, Scalloway, Lerwick, ferry to Orkney, Kirkwall, Churchill Barriers, Italian Chapel, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, ferry to Scrabster via the Old Man of Hoy, John O’Groats, Caithness and Sutherland, Inverness for Highland Line train into the Cairngorms and back to Stirling. Phew!

DNA matches have helped me to find roots in the Orkneys and with more old newspapers coming online, I have learned more of the heart-breaking details around my great grandmother’s struggles in Shrewsbury’s slums that led her to the workhouse and two of her many children to Canada as Home Children.

You can easily navigate round the branches of my family here.

Here are maps for 1766 and 1899 where you can find out more about sites of interest around Berkhamsted, from country manors to the gasworks; a guided tour of our historic market town.

Until 1889, the Red Lion Inn provided stables and accommodation for travellers, but behind this façade was a story of deprivation in Red Lion Yard. Living in such cramped conditions, and fuelled by the drink that was taken to alleviate the misery, there were disagreements that boiled over into assaults, often involving the women. Read more on the Local History page.