Cumbria Archives
Preserving and providing the written heritage of Cumbria

Paid Research

Cumbria Archives does not provide a full Historical Research Service.

We can answer general questions about our holdings and services. In addition with our remote enquiry service, we can provide one specific search only of not more than 30 minutes duration per customer per Archive Centre free-of-charge. Further details can be found on our Copying Services webpage.

For more extended research, you can contact a private records researcher to undertake work for a fee on your behalf. We have provided a list below of freelance researchers who will carry out research in the Cumbria area. This list is not a recommendation by Cumbria Archives and you should make your own arrangements with these private researchers.

Cumbria Archives neither guarantees the quality nor can be held responsible for any work undertaken by these private researchers.

If you are a researcher who would like to be added to this list, please complete our Feedback form.
Our gallery links to fully-illustrated documents in the custody of Cumbria Archives which capture aspects of the county's history, customs and culture. Learn more about the services we can provide for schools and students.

Aim and Action Research Services

Wendy Wilkes, family history researcher and training provider

Email: aimandactionresearchservices@gmail.com

Website: Aim and Action Research Services

Telephone: +44 (0)7444 260300

Emma Bromley, Historical Document Transcription Services

Emma Bromley, B.A. (Hons) Medieval English and History, M.Res Early Modern History

I am an historian specialising in the transcription of 16th century English documents but have experience with documents ranging from the 15th to 20th century.  I provide a professional, accurate, reliable and affordable transcription service with a free, no obligation cost estimate for the work.  I am happy to undertake family history research upon request. Please visit my website for further information or contact me directly via the email address below.

Email: historical.documents@outlook.com

Website: Historical document transcription services website

Facebook: Historical document transcription services Facebook page

William Bundred

Batenbush Farm Bungalow Longtown Carlisle CA6 5NW, UK

Telephone: +44 (0)1228 791258

Email: william.bundred@gmail.com

Family history and local history research, especially in the area North of Carlisle. I visit Carlisle Archives weekly.

Christopher Eve BSc (Hons), MA, IHGS student

9 Larchwood, Castlegate, Lancaster, LA1 4QG, UK

email: chrisrteve2@yahoo.co.uk

Family history and local history in North West England, back to the 18th century. Research in birth, marriage & death records, census, parish records, non-conformity, wills and probate, military records, education and occupations, quarter sessions records, name origins, manorial records. Report-writing of research results; guided tours of ancestral roots.

Jane E Hamby LHG

26 Fulwood Hall Lane, Fulwood, Preston PR2 8DB, UK

Email: hambyje@aol.com

Family history, local history and house history: a comprehensive genealogical service, searching all types of records; palaeography and transcription; research for legal enquiries: adoption and intestacy; background research for authors; photography. Research also carried out in G.R.O. Indexes.  Covers Kendal Archives, South Lakes, Lancashire and Cheshire.

Denise A Harman

12 Wrights Fold, Leyland, Preston, PR25 4HT, UK

Email: deniseharman62@gmail.com

Website: Lancashire Family History Research

Family and local history: a comprehensive genealogical service, researching all records held at the respective County Archives and other repositories, including all denominations. English palaeography and transcription: 16th century onwards. Searches for living relatives.

Areas covered: Cumbria (Kendal, Carlisle and Barrow), Lancashire and Cheshire.

House Historians North West

(Carole Knight) 14 Higher Bank Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 8PD, UK

Email: info@househistorians.co.uk

Website: House Historians

Building history: research into history of Lancashire and South Cumbria buildings, the people associated with them, and the area in which they are situated.

Sarah E Lee M.Litt, B.Ed.

Hillcrest, Bowness-on-Solway, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 5AF, UK

Telephone: +44 (0)7732 122593

Email: genealogycumbria@gmail.com

Website: genealogycumbria.co.uk

Family history and local history research: a bespoke genealogical research service, searching all types of records including parish records, wills and military records. Full details can be found on the website above.

Areas covered: Cumbria and adjoining counties.

Associate member of AGRA and member of RQG

Simon Martin BSc (Hons), Cert HE

28 Station Road, Aspatria CA8 2AL and 21 Petticoat Lane, Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN2 2LH, UK

Telephone: +44 (0)1942 702594 or +44 (0)7811 031795

Email: familyhistorydet@aol.com

AGRA Member, All Record Offices in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

Family history, genealogy, wills and probate, parish registers, banns registers, marriage licences, clergy.

Anne Mealia BA (Hons), MA, Evergreen Ancestry

1 Castle Cottage, Dobroyd Road, Todmorden, OL14 7JJ, UK

Email: info@evergreenancestry.com

Website: Evergreen Ancestry

Family and local history research covering all types of records, 16th-20th centuries. Specialising in Roman Catholic records. Transcription of old documents.

Areas covered: Kendal and Carlisle Archive Centres, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Associate member of AGRA and member of APG. Higher Certificate in Genealogy.

Daniel Millican BA (Hons) History, DipLaw (Exon), DipLP(Oxon), Solicitor

9 Thrushgill Drive, Halton, LA2 6NN, UK

Email: dan.millican@gmail.com

Telephone: +44 (0)7790 932004

Legal, Land and local history, South Lakeland District Archives. Comprehensive, bespoke and in depth historical and legal research, people searches, wills, probate, land and title searches.

Stuart Nicholson

31 Cross Lane, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 6TW, UK

Email: isn31c@yahoo.co.uk

Family history and local History, searching all publicly available local records for genealogical and local history enquiries; providing background research in local records for authors.

Main area: Whitehaven Archives-West Cumbria (River Derwent to Duddon Bridge). Carlisle Archives on request.

Helena Sanderson, BA (Hons), MA


62 Hayclose Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 7NE, UK

Email: helena@helenasanderson.com

Website: helenasanderson.com

Comprehensive research 16th - 20th centuries, including Parish Registers, Bishop's Transcripts, probate, apprenticeships, manorial records, etc.

Areas Covered: Historic counties of Westmorland, Cumberland and Lancashire (including Furness), Greater Manchester.

Regular Archives: Kendal, Carlisle, Whitehaven, Barrow, Preston, Manchester.

MA English Local History, AGRA Associate, 20+ years genealogy experience.

Peter Turvey

Email: pturvey@angliaresearch.co.uk

Website: Anglia Research

Over 30 years of genealogical and property research, for private clients as well as the media and the legal world.