Guides by Daisy Goddard

Whether due to poverty, illness or old age, many of our ancestors spent time in workhouses, and their experiences were often harrowing. Here’s how to uncover their stories.

Our ancestors found themselves in trouble with the law for all sorts of reasons. Criminal records can reveal fascinating - and sometimes surprising - details about their lives. Here’s how to find out if one of your relatives spent time in prison.

When you’re first starting to research your family history, use birth, marriage and death records to discover key information which will form the basis of your family tree. Next, use censuses and other types of records to delve deeper and understand your ancestors’ lives.

Does adoption play a role in your family’s story? Depending on when, where and how it took place, genealogical records may be able to help you understand an adoption in more detail.

Using handy online tools and digitised genealogy records, you can uncover the locations that shaped your ancestors’ lives, from the schools they attended to the places they called home.