22/7/2009 - Gift voucher scheme means expert history help is at hand

A team of expert Cumbrian researchers is on hand to help people with a fascination for their own family history to find out just who they think they are.

The television series Who Do You Think You Are, featuring a number of celebrities searching in the past for their family history, has got people thinking about their own backgrounds and events hundreds of years ago that coloured their family story.

Now a gift voucher system has been launched to enable people to short cut a lot of the research by employing experts at four record offices in the county to bring their knowledge and skill to bear.

The Historical Research Service gift vouchers are an ideal special occasion gift for someone who wants to uncover their origins, but may have run up against a brick wall with their own researches.

'Let our experts help you out' is the message. Cumbria's Archive Service is a treasure trove of material, some of it going back hundreds of years, and the experience of well-practiced researchers can save a huge amount of time in identifying the records which give the right clues.

The record offices contain original parish registers, cemetery records and details of manor courts. Catherine Clark, area archivist at the Cumbria Record Office in Whitehaven, said: "Our researchers will do the work for you. They are familiar with the archives and know where to look for information. They can move things on much more quickly and will report back with copies of relevant documents."

It costs £27 per hour to hire the services of an expert, but Catherine said it is money well spent if it shortens the process and gains access to archives that probably would not be found on the internet, which is where many people start their search.

"The researchers have been doing this sort of work for years and can help to bring some of the real stories from the past alive, often coming up with a few surprises. They know exactly where to look and which documents are stored in the record offices.

"We don't discourage people from coming in if they want to do the research themselves, but a lot of people find it is time consuming and they can only get so far. The television programme Who Do You Think You Are has prompted a lot of people to want to find out more about their own family history or the history of their house," said Catherine.

The more background information people can provide the better when it comes to enlisting the extra support of experts. Catherine said that, once people get on the track of their ancestors, they often become more and more intrigued.

"There are some amazing real stories waiting to be discovered," she said. "The vouchers will make a really interesting gift for a special occasion such as a Golden Wedding, a birthday or Christmas. They may well get people started on a fascinating journey into the past."

The vouchers can be purchased at the four record offices in the county (Carlisle, Whitehaven, Kendal and Barrow). They are also available to buy online at www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives.

ENDS

Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332