Researching in Lancashire

Lauren Lavery is the Research Officer at Liverpool Record Office which is based at Liverpool Central Library & Archives. Her work is incredibly varied and includes many responsibilities including carrying out family history research, information gathering and digitisation requests for members of the public who require access to local studies and archival material. With a fifteen-year teaching career behind her, Lauren is now a qualified archivist having trained at University of Liverpool. She is extremely passionate about her role and enjoys the many challenges and learning opportunities that continue to arise from working in such an inspirational field.

Carol Lee, BA (Hons), is a dedicated family and local historian who has turned a beloved hobby into a career she truly loves. With a deep curiosity for uncovering the past and a passion for storytelling, she has spent years researching family histories, bringing ancestors’ lives to life and discovering their roots. She has served as the Speaker Secretary at the Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society (MLFHS) for the past five years. Additionally, she holds the roles of Chair of Promotions and Education and is  the lead organiser for their Annual Family History Fair.

Else Churchill is the Genealogist at the Society of Genealogists in London. Formerly a professional genealogical librarian and researcher, Else has worked for the SoG since 1994. She is the Society’s subject lead, working across the organisation and runs the publishing programme. She was the recipient of the IHGS Julian Bickersteth Memorial Medal in 2023 for her exemplary contribution to family history studies. TEST

Vicci McCann is an Archivist and Engagement Manager at Lancashire Archives & Local History where she has worked since 2004. As a registered member of the Archives & Records Association she has worked in business, higher education and local authority archive services.  Vicci has catalogued many collections, including the Kenyons of Peel Hall and the Daltons of Thurnham family and estate papers. She has facilitated events and group visits from a range of special interest groups as well as family and local history societies and has run courses on how to start your family history research and paleaography. Vicci is always happy to talk about family history resources at Lancashire Archives & Local History and share some of the many and interesting stories from the archive collections.

Susan Atkins has been the Chair of the Liverpool and South West Lancashire FHS Society since October 2021.  She has been researching her family history since the late 1970’s. Her late father was from London and her late mother, from Liverpool. Susan moved ‘up north’ in 1988 and have been there ever since.

Humphrey Southall is a Professor of Historical Geography at the University of Portsmouth, he is an expert on the History of the North-South divide in Britain, gazetteers and geospatial ontologies and the role of travellers in the development of political life. He works with Dr Paula Aucott, they have been working together on the Great Britain Historical GIS project for over twenty years, and have been invited to present their research findings around the world. The main public interface to their work is the highly successful local history website A Vision of Britain through Time, which they continue to maintain and update.

Dr Paula Aucott is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth, her research interests include historical Geographical Information Systems (GIS), historical land use and medieval landscapes. She works with Humphrey Southall, they have been working together on the Great Britain Historical GIS project for over twenty years, and have been invited to present their research findings around the world. The main public interface to their work is the highly successful local history website A Vision of Britain through Time, which they continue to maintain and update.

Sarah Rose is a Research Associate at Lancaster University where she has worked on the Victoria County History of Cumbria project since 2010. Sarah is a medievalist with particular interests in lordship and power in the north of England. She has also taught several courses focusing on medieval England. Sarah has worked for the British Association of Local History and is currently membership secretary of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.