BACK-TO-YOUR-ROOTS.CO.UK

Bringing Hidden Histories Back Into Focus

The story of who we are is shaped by far more than a single moment in time. Your existence today rests on generations of people whose choices, challenges, and everyday lives all played a part in leading to you. Each of those moments has its own story, and every story deserves to be told.

Finding the Lives Behind the Records

From the introduction of parish registers in 1538 to the start of civil registration in 1837 and beyond, historical records allow us to trace not just names, but the real lives behind them. These documents offer glimpses into people who might otherwise have faded from view.

My work centres on bringing those lives back into focus. I look closely at the years between the major milestones of birth, marriage, and death, using surviving documents and wider historical context to understand what someone’s world might have looked like, and how the events around them shaped their experiences.

Sharing Stories with Wider Audiences

I now focus on writing, public talks, and media contributions that explore these histories and make them accessible. Whether through articles, long form writing, speaking engagements, or work with broadcasters and production teams, my aim is always the same: to make the past feel real and relatable.

As a regular contributor to Family Tree Magazine and Who Do You Think You Are. I bring stories back to life so we can hear our ancestors more clearly.

Why These Stories Matter

Above all, I want to help people see the individuals behind the records. their struggles, their decisions, and the everyday moments that shaped their lives. When we understand their stories, we understand more about our own.

At present, I am unable to take on new genealogical commissions but I continue to welcome enquiries for writing projects, talks, and media contributions.

ABOUT ME

Academic Foundations

After more than two decades of independent research, I recognised the value of gaining formal academic qualifications. This led me to undertake the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde, a programme I completed successfully, and one that opened my eyes even further to the wealth of resources and hidden histories waiting to be uncovered.

Building on that foundation, I am now pursuing a PhD in History, focusing on the lives of paupers in eight Suffolk workhouses during the Victorian era. My research examines illegitimacy and the challenges faced by women navigating a male dominated and class oriented society. By exploring their experiences within the workhouse system, I aim to shed light on the pressures, expectations, and limited choices that shaped their lives.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

I hold an MSc and am currently working toward a PhD, building on a strong foundation of academic and professional expertise.

I am a recognised Associate of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA), an independent, non profit professional body that assesses applicants on their skills, professionalism, and quality of client care. AGRA upholds a strict code of practice and maintains a formal complaints process, ensuring high standards across the profession.

I am also a full member listed on the Register of Qualified Genealogists, a public directory of professionals who have achieved accredited qualifications in genealogy and related disciplines.

In addition, I serve as a trustee of the Suffolk Family History Society, where I help support the preservation and promotion of the county’s rich historical and genealogical heritage.

I maintain full professional insurance, comply with all data protection regulations, and remain an active member of several local and national history societies.

WRITING

A regular contributor to Family Tree Magazine and Who Do You Think You Are

I have two books in production

A Lady on the Margins: A Suffolk Woman’s Life Through Victorian and Edwardian Change.

This book traces the life of a Suffolk woman who began her story on the margins of Victorian society. She raised two illegitimate children at a time when such circumstances carried deep social judgement, yet she went on to marry, build a larger family, and create a lineage that continued long after her own lifetime.

Her world was shaped not only by the expectations placed on women of her class, but also by the hardships faced by those she loved. Illness and loss touched her family repeatedly, from her earliest days to the final years of her life, leaving a mark on the choices she made and the resilience she developed.

Spanning the strict moral codes of the Victorian era, the shifting landscape of the Edwardian years, and the upheaval of a country at war, her life offers a window into the experiences of ordinary women whose stories rarely make the history books. Through her, we see how strength is forged in quiet moments, and how a single life can shape generations.

Names in the dust – individual stories of life in the workhouse

For nearly two centuries, the stories of those who entered the workhouse have remained largely untold. Hidden in bundles of records and fragments of testimony, their voices have waited in silence, until now.

This book brings together the experiences of men, women, and children who found themselves inside the workhouse both before and after the 1834 Poor Law Act. Their lives were shaped by poverty, circumstance, and the harsh realities of a system designed to deter rather than support. Yet within these walls were people with hopes, fears, humour, stubbornness, and strength.

These accounts, uncovered and told here for the first time, cast a clear light on what life was really like for those who had nowhere else to turn. They reveal the choices people faced, the pressures that pushed them through the workhouse gates, and the resilience that carried them through.

By stepping into their world, you begin to understand the humanity behind the records. Their stories encourage empathy, challenge assumptions, and remind us how simple and fragile life could be. In giving them space on the page, we allow their experiences to be seen, heard, and finally remembered.

TALKS

I am delighted to offer talks to schools and other events and organisations, either via Zoom or in person. I am based in Suffolk but also happy to travel.

Before the Poor Law: Forgotten Souls of Onehouse.

This talk uncovers the forgotten lives of individuals buried in Onehouse burial ground, shedding light on their stories and the social landscape before the implementation of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.

Life Before Welfare: Stories from Nacton Workhouse

This talk uncovers the overlooked lives of individuals connected to Nacton Workhouse, bringing their stories back into the light. It explores the conditions and community that shaped their experiences, offering insight into the social landscape prior to the implementation of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.

Family, Faith, and Reform: The Legacy of the Akenham Burial

The Akenham burial case stands as a landmark moment in legal history. This talk explores the individuals at the heart of the case, the roles they played in shaping the resulting legal reform, and the wider social context. It also delves into the family’s genealogy, offering a deeper understanding of their lives and legacies

Suffolk’s Workhouse Legacy: Change, Challenge, and the Human Story

This talk explores the evolution of Suffolk's workhouses during the Victorian period, tracing the impact of legislative and social change. Through a series of personal stories and lived experiences, it offers glimpses into the everyday realities of those who found themselves within the workhouse walls.

If you are interested in hosting one of these talks, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I am available to travel within East Anglia and bring all necessary equipment, including a laptop and projector. I kindly request that a chair is provided at the venue.

Please contact me for further details, as pricing may vary depending on the event. For schools and educational settings, I only ask that basic costs are covered.

TESTIMONIALS

“I had spent many years without success trying to identify my biological father with only a photograph to work on.

However, this age old problem was solved when Julie came on board to help me. Utilising her excellent analytical skills, including DNA data, she traced my paternal linkage from the 1820s until the present day. She kept me fully informed of progress with good communication skills.

Without hesitation. I would highly recommend Julie to anyone seeking answers to their family history and/or heritage.”

Alex Sibbald (New Zealand)

“I was adopted as a baby and at age 63, following my sister making enquiries about her birth family, I decided to explore finding details about my birth family.

Julie at Back-to-your-roots encouraged me and suggested I do a DNA spit test to assist in finding connections in my Tree, as I had no idea where to start.

I applied to get records from Social Services at the Council, but that took time. In the meantime, Julie had done some research and thought she had found two possible families. When eventually I managed to get my birth surname, it matched one of the family trees Julie had found. Then the miracle occurred, on 11 June 2019, a match came back for my DNA test, a possible second cousin in Canada. I contacted them by email and discovered that her father was my cousin and that she knew my mother and also informed me I had two full blood siblings. My birth father had later married my mother. Everything happened quickly and by the following day I was speaking to my Sister and then my Mother. On 20 June, only nine days later I travelled to see my mother and brother and two days after that my sister.

Without Julie’s help and advice this may never have happened. She not only produced my family tree, which all my new-found family were given copies, but enabled me to meet my mother sixty-three years after she had to give me up for adoption, and siblings and their families. We all meet up now regularly and have been on holidays together.

I have since met many of my cousins including my cousin from Canada and his daughter, with whom I DNA matched.

I totally recommend Julie’s Back-to-your-roots business to help you discover your roots.”

Robert Whitehead (Suffolk, UK)

"My heartfelt gratitude is extended to Julie for the exceptional genealogical research she conducted on behalf of my family. Her meticulous attention to detail, thorough investigation, and insightful analysis have provided us with a remarkable understanding of our family history."

Heather

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IN THE NEWS

Uncovering the lost names of the people buried in Onehouse remains one of my greatest achievements. After successfully identifying 302 previously unknown records of paupers buried in the Pauper Burial Ground at Onehouse, Stow, I carried out detailed case studies on several of them, bringing their stories back into view after nearly two centuries.

I later presented this work to the Parish Council, and with the support of local councillors, enough funds were raised to create a permanent memorial. That monument now stands as a tribute to the lives of those who were once forgotten, ensuring their names and stories are preserved for future generations.