Still thinking of you: letters after VE Day

Peter Poulton (1925-2004) was on active service in the Far East as the West celebrated VE Day 1945. Family letters reflect joy, longing, and ongoing war concerns

Marriage, Mobility, and Motherhood

Catherine Dibben (1850–1934) navigating army life, delayed motherhood, and domestic service, she developed skills, patience, and resilience that would later shape her career

Enterprise, Respectability, and Seaside Tourism

Catherine Dibben (1850–1934) returning to Hayling Island after twenty years, managing a boarding house amidst personal losses and the evolving social landscape of the late 19th century

The Levens family and Croydon’s bells

Levens family members were key figures in Croydon’s bell ringing tradition, elevating the art over several generations

Not just a pretty face

Ellen Kirby (1851-1924) whose humble origins in rural Berkshire contrasted sharply with her later success as a respected housekeeper, wife, and businesswoman