Gill Blanchard: Genealogist Family Researcher Historian Tutor Author

Reviews of Tracing Your East Anglian Ancestors - A Guide for Family Historians

One of a series of regional guides, this book focuses on Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. It aims to help researchers investigate what it was like for ancestors to live and work in these counties. It begins by introducing East Anglian archives, the repositories of information on which the book is based, and listing the central resources for family historians. The region’s history and geography is covered before the remaining chapters focus on different aspects for research — for example, Migration; Railways; Work, Trade and Commerce and Religion. Within each chapter, a concise introduction to the topic and its history is followed by a ‘Finding out More’ section, discussing local resources for further investigation. Chapters are rounded off by a
‘Bringing it to Life’ section listing museums, houses and other resources that lend a visual clement to research. The volume is completed by a further ‘Resources Directory’.

The guide illuminates the wealth of material available. Gill Blanchard recognises that ancestors don’t have to appear in the records for them to be relevant to research, but despite the title, she writes from the point of view of a local historian whose primary aim is not finding ancestors in records. Indeed, in many cases, finding specific ancestors in the records discussed would be near impossible. The locus is instead on seeking a flavour of their lives and communities.

The researcher should feel thoroughly inspired and empowered in the knowledge of what resources are available.

Jenny Thomas, Who Do You Think You Are Magazine

"Flat, very” is how Noel Coward memorably dismissed Norfolk. But as Gill Blanchard admirably describes in this guide, there is more to England’s easternmost counties than hills. Indeed, because the area is fairly geographically remote, even today, it still sometimes feels very separate from the rest of Britain.

East Anglia’s history is different as well. Until the 18th century the region was dominated by the wool trade, as can be seen in the churches which tower over the countryside, built by late medieval wool merchants to show off their wealth and as an insurance policy for admission into heaven. Urbanisation came late. Although Norwich was England’s third largest city for many centuries, much of the area slept until after the Second World War - even the arrival of the railway in the 1840s did not jolt the economy as it did elsewhere.

Readers with ancestors from Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are well served here. Mrs Blanchard goes through the major genealogical sources covering the region, describing what is available, where it can be found and how it can help you in your research. She illustrates the value of these records with many examples, all taken from the work she has done as a professional researcher over the past 20 years.

As well as the obvious sources she looks at some of the lesser known ones as well, with sections, for example, on local government, railways, work and trade. Very useful is a detailed resources section which includes addresses of all archives, museums and libraries in the region.

Simon Fowler, Ancestors Magazine

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