THE GENEALOGY JOURNAL
STORIES OF FAMILY, PLACE & THE PAST
A collection of writing about childhood, genealogy, Devon and the ordinary lives that history too easily forgets.
FROM THE JOURNAL
The Generations Between Us: Why Grandparents Matter in Childhood History
From shared homes and everyday care to family stories and traditions, grandparents have played an important role in shaping childhood throughout history. Explore the often-overlooked relationships between generations and discover why understanding the connections between our ancestors can reveal so much more about the lives they shared.
My Journey into Genealogy: From Family Stories to Professional Research
What began with childhood questions about old photographs and family stories became a lifelong fascination with the people behind the records. This is the story of how curiosity, grandparents and one life-changing discovery led me from family history to professional research.
Why Devon?
Muddy boots, winding lanes, old farm tracks and stories shared with Grandad first taught me that every place has a history. This is the story of how growing up in Devon shaped a lifelong fascination with its people, landscapes and past.
The Man Who Taught Me to Look
He never set out to teach me history. Through muddy walks, old stories and endless curiosity, Grandad simply taught me to look more closely at the world around me — a childhood gift that would eventually shape the historian I became.
Killerton: My Childhood Theme Park
To most people, Killerton is a historic Devon estate. To us, it was a childhood kingdom of ancient trees, conker-filled pockets, Apple Days and endless adventures with Grandad. Looking back, I realise we weren't simply exploring its history, we were quietly becoming part of it.
The Tree That Waited
Some family heirlooms are kept in boxes. Ours had been growing quietly in a Devon woodland for nearly seventy years. When the tree bearing my grandparents’ names disappeared from our family walks, it took an old photograph, discovered after Grandad died, to lead us back to it.
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