#FamilyHistory researcher Trustee @cotswoldarch.bsky.social Editor @friendlesschurches.bsky.social OFHS advisor Singer, baker, occasional mudlarker Blogging at digupyourancestors.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mlb5ar6sp22pCathy was one of my first clients and has such fascinating ancestors. I’m very grateful to her for helping me learn on the job! [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 May 2026 11:44 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlb5ar6sp22phttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mkslgoa3tc2bI’ve published a blog about the history of my house from the late 18th century to 1901. For 100 years the property was owned by one family of blacksmiths, the Hyde’s, and many of them worked here in the village smithy. https://digupyourancestors.com/2026/04/25/a-history-of-forge-cottage-drayton-1/01 May 2026 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkslgoa3tc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mkrqtkx43s2mHappy 80th birthday to the luminous and hilarious Dame Joanna Lumley! I was lucky enough to meet her when I worked in the entertainment industry many moons ago. #JoannaLumley01 May 2026 08:52 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkrqtkx43s2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mklgo5q2m22kFor my archival research today I had musical entertainment! I’ve been at the Pusey House Library, Oxford — a nationally important collection of books on Anglo-Catholicism. The chapel is just downstairs and I have been browsing Victorian diaries to the sounds of organ and choral music all afternoon.28 Apr 2026 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mklgo5q2m22khttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mjths5fmvc2thttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8ejjw7377jo19 Apr 2026 07:50 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjths5fmvc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mjn2kh4jis25https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20260408-the-extinct-english-words-for-just-the-two-of-us https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20260408-the-extinct-english-words-for-just-the-two-of-us?fbclid=IwRlRTSAROC6NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeSmP3AgrOpqtJTXA6wyN9mI2lsZkoDSDs4Dij2bCb-1Ct3VPi4bG7wAn3yBg_aem_LVn1kSRwIwAJtVH0va8POA16 Apr 2026 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjn2kh4jis25https://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3miht56dyws27Do you know your St Botolphs? There are 3 London churches with this dedication: St Botolph without Aldersgate, St Botolph without Aldgate & St Botolph without Bishopsgate — all once outside (without) the city gates. A 4th, St Botolph Billingsgate, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.01 Apr 2026 23:16 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3miht56dyws27https://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3migr2va3ys2qToday I’m looking at Oxford overseers’ accounts and council minutes at the brilliant @oxhistcentre.bsky.social. It’s a lot to take in, so thank goodness I can take a break with a lovely pot of tea and the latest Family Tree magazine.01 Apr 2026 13:06 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3migr2va3ys2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3miccnj5ofk2vHere are 9 more colourful entries from Condover's parish registers (all mid 18th century). And I think I've saved the best for last ... 1. 'Elizabeth a Bastard Daughter of Mary Bromley a most foresworn abominable whore was baptised the 6th [March 1748]30 Mar 2026 18:38 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3miccnj5ofk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3miadcn26h22vOn Christmas Day 1747, William, illegitimate son of Elizabeth Bevin, a 'vagrant woman', was baptised at Condover. She'd been traveling to her home parish of Clun — having been ordered there by a JP — and gave birth at the Constable of Bayston's home. William was buried the next day. #WomensHistory29 Mar 2026 23:44 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3miadcn26h22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mi7kkwp5ck2zI discovered the reason that the >200 yr old statue of Lord Hill is in such great condition — it was made from Coade stone, an artificial stone invented by Eleanor Coade. Her invention was used in numerous sculptures, stately homes & significant buildings. What a brilliant woman! #WomensHistoryMonth [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Mar 2026 16:21 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi7kkwp5ck2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mi7fkp3w7s25At St Andrew’s, Condover, this beautiful and poignant monument depicts Alice Cholmondeley, who died in childbirth in 1868 just a year after marriage. She holds her infant daughter, who died a few weeks later. Alice’s husband Reginald sculpted the effigy himself, adding an empty cradle at her feet.29 Mar 2026 14:52 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi7fkp3w7s25https://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mi5h6am7mk2tMy 4x grt grandparents had a grocer’s shop in Abbey Foregate in Shrewsbury 1813-1816, before moving to Bedfordshire. I visited Abbey Foregate today and realised that Lord Hill’s Column, the tallest Doric column in the UK (40.6m) was erected there during that short period. Must have been exciting!28 Mar 2026 20:15 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi5h6am7mk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mhm6ipkpic2xhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/20/dog-19th-century-devon-murder-case-discovery https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/20/dog-19th-century-devon-murder-case-discovery?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZnRzaAQsB_9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeobU0bTou9O9VUuQYYAg5EuaWHZYCzVU0PA8WMjCCaFkPh6BtZJzo0X1jgQU_aem_g9tDQPmx9UVqRXg9utfRhA#Echobox=177401874421 Mar 2026 23:25 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhm6ipkpic2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mhaotet2v224My husband’s ancestors (Benwell) were some of the few townspeople permitted to use Merton chapel. Only about 2 christenings and 2 burials were recorded in the chapel per year from 1750-1800, and 25 of them were Benwells. They entered from the street and at different times from the college residents. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Mar 2026 09:45 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhaotet2v224https://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mhaoelani224More Bagpuss in my Bluesky this morning. He never goes out of style. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Mar 2026 09:37 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhaoelani224https://bsky.app/profile/digupyourancestors.bsky.social/post/3mh434wb6d22iMothering and parenting takes many forms. One of the first blogs I ever wrote was about the mystery of an aunt and uncle who raised my husband’s great grandmother. Her locket containing their photographs was passed down, but their names had been forgotten. https://digupyourancestors.com/2020/03/14/raised-by-an-aunt-uncle-part-1-the-mysterious-locket/15 Mar 2026 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:zgbcy5o7s5uyx4h7hgnkljhl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh434wb6d22i