Researching the people, places and objects behind the record.
Independent historical & family research · Newcastle upon Tyne
Research shaped around the question, not a standard package
Services
Historical research can be straightforward in one case and unexpectedly complex in another. Every enquiry begins with an understanding of what you already know, what you hope to discover and which historical sources may help. Together, we can agree on a realistic starting point before any chargeable research begins.
Focused Family History Research
From £80
One clearly defined question. The starting commission includes up to two hours of research, analysis and reporting, with a concise written summary, sources consulted and suggested next steps.
Ancestor Story
From £160
A fuller reconstruction of one ancestor’s life, drawing together the surviving records to build a coherent, sourced account.
House & Street History
Individually quoted
Research into the history of a house, street or other place, exploring previous occupants, historical maps, local directories and surviving records. Particular strength in Newcastle and the North East.
Archive & Local Research Support
Quoted by project
North East research support for family historians, writers, researchers and organisations who need material that cannot easily be reached online.
Archive and library research
Document retrieval and checking
Local newspaper, map and directory research
Cemetery, location and on-the-ground investigation
Each project is individually quoted, taking into account the research required, preparation, archive visits, travel and reporting.
Initial assessment is free
Send me a brief outline of what you would like researched and what you hope to discover. I will review the information you already have, consider the likely sources and suggest an appropriate starting point, with a clear price agreed before any research begins. There is no obligation to proceed.
About starting prices
Starting prices include research, analysis and reporting within the agreed scope. Although historical research cannot guarantee that every record has survived or that a particular answer will be found, you will receive an account of the sources searched, the findings and any conclusions that can reasonably be drawn.
Additional records and costs
Certificates, archive copying charges, specialist record fees or paid sources are not purchased without your agreement. Where additional costs may be useful, I will explain what they are and why before you decide whether to proceed.
Living people
Lantern Archive undertakes historical and family-history research. I do not accept commissions whose primary purpose is to locate or investigate living people.
Stories from the Archive
Historical records can reveal remarkable stories about ordinary lives. These examples show how directories, maps, burial records and other sources can be brought together to uncover the histories of people and places.
Stephen Acaster: Tracing a Newcastle Innkeeper
In 1822, Stephen Acaster appeared in Pigot's Directory as an innkeeper in Newcastle upon Tyne. A single entry in a historical trade directory provided the starting point for exploring his life and his connection to the city's past.
By following clues through historical directories, maps and burial records, the research led to the discovery of his gravestone in Jesmond Old Cemetery.
This is an example of how seemingly ordinary historical records can be brought together to uncover the stories of people and places that might otherwise be forgotten.
At Lantern Archive, research begins with a name, an address or even a small clue. Where the surviving evidence allows, it can lead to a much richer understanding of the past.
Newcastle City Library, Local Studies Collections
Margaret Roddick: The Girl Behind an 1881 Sampler
In September 2026, a Victorian alphabet sampler caught my attention at auction. Stitched in coloured thread, it carried the name of Margaret Roddick, aged ten, and the words Newcastle upon Tyne.
That small piece of embroidery became the starting point for tracing Margaret's life. Census records revealed her childhood in industrial Elswick, where her Scottish father worked as a boilersmith, and followed her family through the changing streets of Victorian Newcastle.
Further research uncovered her marriage, her child and her later life in Byker. Burial records eventually led me to an unmarked grave in Heaton Cemetery, where I was able to leave flowers in her memory.
What began as a child's needlework exercise became a journey through fifty years of an ordinary Newcastle woman's life, showing how even the smallest surviving object can open a window into the past.
Tell me what you are trying to discover
Use the form to send a brief outline of your research question. You do not need to have every detail before getting in touch; a starting point is enough.