General History

Our ancestors (like us) were shaped by the world they lived in and the sudden movement of a family, for example, from their birthplace to another part of the country could be explained by what was happening in the wider world.

The resources in this section will help you to find out about the history of the times in which your ancestors lived. Where possible, they have been grouped together in separate articles. A miscellany of resources can be found on this page.
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To enable you to find out about how your ancestors lived and worked, this section of the Reference Library contains a large collection of resources about a variety of occupations.

Where possible, they have been grouped together in separate articles. Resources for a wide variety of occupations can be found on this page.
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In the 18th and early 19th century the vast majority of the population worked in agriculture, so it is rare not to find your ancestors working on the land during this period!

This page gives you an idea of how their lives were organised.
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This page collects together resources which will give you an insight into the history and development of the various mining and heavy industries, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

The article includes links to resources which might lead you to finding your own ancestors.
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On this page, we have a collection of online resources which are available for you to find out about your ancestors who lived and worked on and around inland waterways and docklands.

The article includes links to resources which might lead you to finding your own ancestors.
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This page contains a variety of resources to enable you to find out about your ancestors who were involved in the medical professions, especially nursing.

There are many suggestions and addresses which may help you track down their employment history.
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Many of us find victuallers, innkeepers and publicans listed in census returns.

The resources on this page may help you to find out more about the public house or inn that your ancestor ran or lodged in.
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The January 2007 issue of "Your Family Tree" has an article about stonemasons which covers many different aspects including some historical background.

The earlier you go back, the more likely your stonemason would have been a very skilled craftsman, with an apprenticeship of 15 years to learn all the different aspects of construction. ...