A Calne-based genealogy company, is urging residents to make the most of the summer months by embarking on a journey into their family’s past — and even turning it into a holiday.
Family Wise, specialists in heir tracing, people finding and genealogy for over a decade, says “genealogy tourism” is a growing trend and a rewarding way to explore history. The concept involves travelling to places connected with family heritage — from visiting a great-grandmother’s birthplace to walking the same streets ancestors once called home.
Managing Director Kirsty Gray believes that the best place to start is close to home. “When looking for family history in the British Isles, it is best to start with local archives and record offices, churches and churchyards, local libraries, historical homes, newspaper archives, and talking to people in the community,” said Kirsty.
She added that summer is the ideal season for such adventures: “The sun is out for longer and the weather is generally better. Plus, record offices and local museums have summer hours. So, you can seek the help you need for longer and with more local knowledge.”
Genealogy tourism hot spots already attracting enthusiasts include rural Cornwall and Yorkshire’s agricultural hubs, the industrial heritage centres of Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield, the Scottish Highlands for clan heritage, and Northern Ireland for maritime family records.
Preparation, Kirsty advises, is key: “Make sure you bring research notes, photographs of ancestors, lists of questions you want answered, a camera, a notebook, an address book and maps. You’ll need to be ready for emotional moments and also for unsuccessful searches.”
Beyond visiting archives and ancestral homes, travellers can join family history walking tours, explore county record offices, or experience living history museums. Wiltshire’s own Athelstan Museum in Malmesbury is one example — a volunteer-run collection where local knowledge often sparks unexpected discoveries.
“Doing a genealogy trip is about making your trip meaningful by visiting places with your family’s name stamped on it and knowing the places you are walking are where your ancestors once walked or where they lived,” Kirsty concluded.
Founded in 2012, Family Wise has helped thousands uncover their family trees and track down lost relatives. Kirsty herself began tracing her heritage as a child and went on to publish Tracing Your West Country Ancestors in 2013.
More information about starting your own genealogy journey is available at family-wise.co.uk.
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