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.