In the quiet corners of Britain, a dedicated group of amateur historians are quietly reshaping the landscape of genealogical research. From photographing half a million gravestones in Norfolk to compiling comprehensive datasets of wartime civilian casualties, these passionate individuals are the “hidden engine room” powering the country’s boom in family history exploration.
Louise Cocker, a 53-year-old Lidl supermarket employee, is one such history enthusiast. Over the past 24 years, she has meticulously captured almost half a million Norfolk gravestones, creating one of the most comprehensive photographic records of memorials in England. “I’m just passionate about it, I really am,” Cocker says. “I know it sounds crazy.” Her dedication extends beyond just taking photographs – she will often gently clear overgrown memorials, sometimes accompanied by her mother, Angela Parke.
Cocker’s work is just one example of the private passions that are fuelling the growth of genealogical research in Britain. According to Mary McKee, UK archives manager of the family history website Findmypast, “the foundation of our entire industry is independent genealogists.” These amateur historians are not only sharing official data such as censuses and military records, but are also compiling their own highly specialized datasets.
Cliff Webb, a former insurance broker now based in Hampshire, is one such dedicated researcher. Over the decades, he has amassed a wealth of data, including an index of hundreds of thousands of apprentices and their employers dating back to 1442, as well as a detailed directory of court cases heard in Surrey between the 14th and 19th centuries. His current focus is on compiling an index of up to 300,000 wills recorded in London church courts during the Elizabethan period, as he believes they offer a unique window into the lives of ordinary people.
Similarly, retired academic Mark Peel has dedicated his free time to compiling a new dataset of civilian casualties from the Second World War in Britain. By combining the names recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission with contemporary street maps, burial registers, and other sources, Peel’s work offers a more detailed and textured account of those who lost their lives in the conflict. “People did the most amazing things in the most harrowing circumstances to make sure that people weren’t forgotten and just lost,” he says.
These amateur historians, driven by their personal passions and a desire to preserve the stories of the past, are playing a vital role in shaping the future of genealogical research in Britain. Their dedication and attention to detail are uncovering a wealth of information that would otherwise remain hidden, providing a deeper understanding of our shared history and the lives of those who came before us.
