Nineteen firefighters. One shared grave. One town united in mourning. This funeral procession, burial and remembrance of the Beckenham firefighters lost at The Old Palace School on 20 April 1941. #OldPalaceSchool #WW2History #FireServiceHistory #Remembrance open.substack.com/pub/oldpalac...

The Funeral of the Nineteen

Beckenham Cemetery, 25 April 1941

open.substack.com

Thank you so much for your continued support and kindness @projectkin.bsky.social it’s greatly appreciated

A very busy week and I didn’t have time for my #MuseumOfFamilyStuff so here is some celebratory Stuff ☺️ Given by the county council to school children. The spoons were mum & dad’s. I think the earlier pen was a Gt Aunt’s, a teacher. Tagging @chiddickstree.bsky.social @kaz747.bsky.social

Best title for a blog post in a very long time, definitely guaranteed to get some clicks! (Plus it's a great article.) "Why You Should Really Kill Off Your Ancestors" chiddickstree.substack.com/p/why-you-sh... via @chiddickstree.bsky.social #genealogy #FamilyHistory

Why You Should Really Kill Off Your Ancestors

How obtaining a copy of a death record for your ancestor can help solve family history mysteries and save you hours of research.

chiddickstree.substack.com

@eruditegit.bsky.social I have deleted the post now for amendment not sure if you received my earlier message

They locked their doors expecting to return in a few weeks. More than 80 years later, the village of Tyneham still stands empty. #Genealogy #Dorset #FamilyHistory #History #Village chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/16/t...

Tyneham: The Village Where Time Stood Still

A Dorset village evacuated during the Second World War, where a promise to return was never fulfilled Hidden within the rolling hills of Dorset lies one of Britain’s most poignant reminders o…

chiddicksfamilytree.com

#Genealogy #FamilyHistory Do you agree? Unsourced family trees = Genealogy Slop! climbingmyfamilytree.blogspot.com/2026/07/unso...

Unsourced Family Trees = Genealogy Slop

Genealogy research and commentary by Marian Burk Wood, speaker and author of "Planning a Future for Your Family's Past," available from Amazon.com.

climbingmyfamilytree.blogspot.com

I really enjoy these sessions, as well as a friendly chat with other members you also pick up little hints and tips for your own research.

Jane Hough 🌳🧬🏡@allthosebefore.bsky.social · 2w ago

So lovely to have an informal #FamilyHistory chit-chat with @fhsofcheshire.bsky.social this evening. I really enjoy all the talks, but it’s also fun to have a different format. Tonight’s theme was weddings, and we covered gifts, outfits, hastily rearranged ceremonies and more besides.

There are thousands of archives around the UK, and many of these have collections that span back a thousand years. Our guide will give you the know-how to start using them... https://f.mtr.cool/yzlajrhaaj

🎤 Help shape the Family Tree Live lecture programme! We're busy planning the talks for Family Tree Live 2027, and we'd love your ideas. If you could choose one family history topic to hear an expert speak about, what would it be? https://f.mtr.cool/kaffvhchev #familytreelive

This is fascinating. Reading elsewhere online, I learned that the last surviving former resident visited in 2024, the year before he passed away at age 100.

Paul Chiddicks@chiddickstree.bsky.social · 3w ago

They locked their doors expecting to return in a few weeks. More than 80 years later, the village of Tyneham still stands empty. #Genealogy #Dorset #FamilyHistory #History #Village chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/16/t...

I’m currently on tour in Germany, where there’s an incredible amount of history to explore. I’ll have plenty to write about when I return, but in the meantime, here’s a handful of photos to whet your appetite…..

Since reading @chiddickstree.bsky.social's article on the village of Tyneham, lost villages have been on my mind and in my news feed. This example was due to coastal erosion at Easton Bavents in #Suffolk. #LostVillages #CoastalErosion #OnePlaceStudies bbc.com/news/article...

'We stopped fighting nature and adapted to erosion'

Rather than fighting the forces of nature - and the law - one family has chosen a different path.

bbc.com

I am not going to do this every day, but here is another treasure from my #MuseumOfFamilyStuff, painted by my Gt Grandfather in 1918. Pen painting with oils on fabric (and difficult to photograph because of reflections). @chiddickstree.bsky.social @kaz747.bsky.social #Genealogy

MargaretR@margr.bsky.social · 3w ago

Not sure of the best way to keep #MuseumOfFamilyStuff going so trying this way. Item 2, a fun one 😊 I don’t recall if this was from my Gt Grandmother or from the Great Aunts. Still in use. Not for original purpose (😆), it is now a plant holder!

One of my top genealogical "bucket list" wishes is to visit West Tofts. This is another village lost to the MOD during WW2 (as part of the Stanford Battle Area). Five of my ancestors are buried in St Mary's graveyard and it would be nice to pay my respects (although I doubt there are gravestones).

Paul Chiddicks@chiddickstree.bsky.social · 3w ago

They locked their doors expecting to return in a few weeks. More than 80 years later, the village of Tyneham still stands empty. #Genealogy #Dorset #FamilyHistory #History #Village chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/16/t...

Reposting this one and tagging again. What do you have in your #MuseumOfFamilyStuff #Genealogy @chiddickstree.bsky.social @kaz747.bsky.social

MargaretR@margr.bsky.social · 3w ago

Not sure of the best way to keep #MuseumOfFamilyStuff going so trying this way. Item 2, a fun one 😊 I don’t recall if this was from my Gt Grandmother or from the Great Aunts. Still in use. Not for original purpose (😆), it is now a plant holder!

an important story to read...there were so many victims of WWII, and the people of Tyneham in Dorset (and West Tofts in Norfolk) made a different kind of sacrifice that was no less devastating...

Paul Chiddicks@chiddickstree.bsky.social · 3w ago

They locked their doors expecting to return in a few weeks. More than 80 years later, the village of Tyneham still stands empty. #Genealogy #Dorset #FamilyHistory #History #Village chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/16/t...

"The families who left in 1943 believed they were making a temporary sacrifice for the greater good. Instead, they unknowingly closed the doors on generations of family history." A fantastic story from Paul.

Paul Chiddicks@chiddickstree.bsky.social · 3w ago

They locked their doors expecting to return in a few weeks. More than 80 years later, the village of Tyneham still stands empty. #Genealogy #Dorset #FamilyHistory #History #Village chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/16/t...

Tyneham, a special place and the subject of a registered #OnePlaceStudy. In addition to Paul’s post, do check out Martin White’s Tyneham & Worbarrow website for a wealth of information about the place and its people. #OnePlaceStudies, where #FamilyHistory and #LocalHistory unite.

Tyneham

Tyneham - where time stopped in 1943 - is Dorset's famous ‘lost’ village. Find out everything you need to know about visiting Tyneham and Worbarrow Bay and what you can expect to see.

tynehamopc.org.uk

Paul Chiddicks@chiddickstree.bsky.social · 3w ago

They locked their doors expecting to return in a few weeks. More than 80 years later, the village of Tyneham still stands empty. #Genealogy #Dorset #FamilyHistory #History #Village chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/16/t...

Well deserved, Paul! Whether online or within the pages of @familytreeplus.bsky.social you’re a fab read, Sir!

They locked their doors expecting to return in a few weeks. More than 80 years later, the village of Tyneham still stands empty. #Genealogy #Dorset #FamilyHistory #History #Village chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/16/t...

Tyneham: The Village Where Time Stood Still

A Dorset village evacuated during the Second World War, where a promise to return was never fulfilled Hidden within the rolling hills of Dorset lies one of Britain’s most poignant reminders o…

chiddicksfamilytree.com

Well, that wasn't something I was expecting this morning! My family tree blog has been ranked #2 in the Top 25 Family History Blogs for 2026. I'm absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful to everyone who reads, supports, and shares my passion for family history www.feedspot.com/fs/tk/GEbRwG...

25 Best Family Tree Blogs to Follow in 2026

FeedSpot brings you the best list of Family Tree blogs, ranked by relevance, online following, and freshness to keep you connected with the latest voices

feedspot.com

Today’s webinars focus on those excluded from society, marginalised or forgotten & how best to write their stories and honour them. Janet Few - Marginalised Ancestors Dai Davies - Ancestors who died by suicide www.pharostutors.com/webinars #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #OnlineTalks #MentalHealth

Inspired by something @chalfontr.bsky.social once said - We inherit heirlooms. But one day... We'll become someone's ancestor. What will we leave behind? My latest blog explores that simple but powerful question chiddicksfamilytree.com/2026/07/10/w... #Genealogy #Heirloom #Keepsake

What Legacy Will You Leave Behind?

Legacy Isn’t Just What We Inherit – It’s What We Leave Behind There’s something profoundly moving about family heirlooms. They are more than objects passed from one generati…

chiddicksfamilytree.com

Thanks Paul! I’m much indebted to you for engaging the genealogy community about these ideas!

Paul Chiddicks@chiddickstree.bsky.social · 3w ago

Interesting talk that argues that the future of genetic genealogy lies in using computer algorithms and AI to recognise patterns in huge DNA match networks. youtu.be/YItpdiIbjvI?...

Every week, somewhere in an old newspaper, parish register, or forgotten archive, someone I've never met comes back to life. They were labourers, servants, soldiers, and widows. Their names have faded, but their stories still matter. This is where I tell them. open.substack.com/pub/chiddick...

The Chiddicks Observer Edition 63

This week’s Observer is about looking beyond the record.

open.substack.com

Interesting talk that argues that the future of genetic genealogy lies in using computer algorithms and AI to recognise patterns in huge DNA match networks. youtu.be/YItpdiIbjvI?...

Further Adventures in Genealogical Bioinformatics: What’s Next? by Arun Konanur

YouTube video by GFO - Genealogical Forum of Oregon

youtu.be

2/2 Please join in, tag anyone who may be interested. Item 1 (posted before but a favourite). A chair belonging to my Gt Grandma and she remembered sitting in it at her Grandfather’s house. At least 8 generations have used it now, I have photos of 7 of those generations too. #MuseumOfFamilyStuff

1/2 I am starting a thing. I live surrounded by objects large and small, documents and photographs all pertaining to and passed down by previous family members. I have become the keeper of the #MuseumOfFamilyStuff so I will share some. @kaz747.bsky.social @chiddickstree.bsky.social Cont .. 👇🏻