As featured in

Lancashire Evening Post, May 2017

An essential companion if you have Lancashire ancestors, since it identifies what records to look at, what indexes may exist and where they will be located. It also places Lancashire ancestors into social context.

Federation of Genealogical Societies

The similarities between Lancashire and Lanarkshire are obvious – both cradles of the industrial revolution with an emphasis on coal and textiles as well as shipbuilding and trade with the Caribbean and the Americas, plus a large influx of Irish immigrants.
This is an invaluable book for these with Lancashire ancestors or connections.

Journal of Glasgow and West Scotland Family History Society

Sue Wilke’s accessible and informative handbook outlines Lancashire’s history and describes the origins of its major industries – cotton, coal, transport, engineering, shipbuilding, and others. She looks at the stories of important Lancashire families such as the Stanley’s and peels, and reveals the sources available for family and local history research.

Your Family tree, March 2013

Sue Wilkes’s book is full of accessible information about Lancashire’s history and ancestors who lived and worked in the county. She tells the stories of important families such as the Stanleys, Molneuxs and Egertons, and famous entrepreneurs like Richard Arkwright. This guide is essential for anyone who wants to discover their Lancashire roots and relevant documents, specialist archives and libraries, background reading and other sources are recommended throughout this practical book.

Lancashire Magazine, Feb 2013

If you want to find out about Lancashire’s history, and particularly if you have family links to the area and your ancestors lived or worked in the county, then this is the ideal book for you. As well as helping you to trace when and where your ancestors were born, married and died, it gives you an insight into the world they knew and a chance to explore their lives at work and at home.
Sue Wilkes book is the essential companion for anyone who wants to discover their Lancashire roots.

Kent FHS Journal

I particularly chose this book to review because of my Lancashire ancestors, and I have not been disappointed. I was fascinated with the opening story of Lancashire and its people even though I am Yorkshire by birth.
The ‘Matter of Religion’ is colourfully dealt with. It includes details of the trial of 19 people from the Pendle and Samlesbury areas being tried as witches, and the section also touches on Parish registers, church records and marriage bonds etc.
A chapter on ‘rags to riches’ follows showing how the new industries made fortunes for the mill owners. It also highlights the dreadful living and working conditions of those working in them and in particular the children and how Sir Robert Peel campaigned tirelessly for better conditions. This section led neatly into the chapter on transport and industry, in which I was particularly interest myself.
The last part of the book deals with how to search, which leads into a research guide and archive directory. Useful addresses in alphabetical order and two separate lists on free online resources and subscription ones make this book an invaluable companion. I am working my way through all the sites mentioned, many of which I knew but there are a lot which I did not know about.

Federation of Family History Societies, Marcia Kemp

Sue Wilkes, an established expert on industrial heritage and a well known family historian, has put together an invaluable handbook packed with practical advice and information as well as an excellent background to Lancashire’s history for those tracking down ancestors who lived or worked in the country.
No stone is left unturned in Tracing Your Lancashire Ancestors, a fascinating and essential companion for anyone seeking out their Lancashire roots.

Blackpool Gazette, 26/01/13

Sue Wilkes’ new guide delves deep into the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. Spanning the centuries from the country’s medieval origins to the First World War and the industrial and social histories between, this is a perfect companion for those searching for their red rose forebears.

Your Family History January 2013

Sue Wilkes’ accessible and informative handbook outlines Lancashire’s history and describes the origins of its major industries – cotton, coal, transport, engineering, shipbuilding and others. She looks at the stories of important Lancashire families such as the Stanleys and Pells, and reveals the sources available for family and local history research. Read it for a dedicated handbook for exploring Lancashire roots.

Your Family Tree, January 2013

Tracing ancestors has become a favourite pastime but it can be hard to know where to start. Wilkes’ accessible and informative handbook provides an excellent background to Lancashire’s history for those tracking down ancestors who lives or worked in the country. As well as helping to trace when and where ancestors were born, marriage and died, the book gives an insight into the world they knew and a chance to explore their lives.

Lancashire Evening Post, 1st Dec 2013

Sue Wilkes’s latest book will be welcomed by family historians interested in Lancashire forebears, as it is perhaps the most comprehensive and wide-ranging work on the subject to date.
Tracing Your Lancashire Ancestors certainly deserved a place on the bookshelves of all those interested in the subject and local historians as well.

Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, January 2013

Sue Wilkes’s guide outlines the history of Lancashire, its industries, famous families and entrepreneurs, to give a real flavour of what life was like for residents in days gone by, as well as directing researchers to the many local sources available.
Lancashire was the birth place of the Industrial Revolution and the story has been expertly woven into this useful guide, covering local sources, from marriage bonds to mining records. All life is here for those researching Lancashire forebears, and so are the archives and websites.

Family Tree, January 2013

Sue Wilkes, an established expert on industrial heritage and a well-known family historian, has put together this invaluable handbook packed with practical advice and information as well as an excellent background to Lancashire’s history for those tracking down ancestors who lived or worked in the county.
As well as helping you to trace when and where your ancestors were born, married and died, it gives an insight into the world they knew and a chance to explore their lives at work and at home.
No stone is left unturned in this fascinating and essential companion for anyone seeking out their Lancashire roots.

Pendle Today

Tracing Your Lancashire Ancestors is the ideal guide to find out about Lancashire’s history and ancestors. It will assist in tracing when and where ancestors were born, married and died and gives an insight into the world they knew and a chance to explore their lives at work and at home.
Sue Wilkes accessible and informative handbook describes the origins of Lancashire’s major industries – cotton, coal, transport, engineering, shipbuilding and others. Sue looks at the stories of the important Lancashire families such as the Stanley’s, Molyneuxs and Egertons, and famous entrepreneurs such as Richard Arkwright to illustration aspects of Lancashire life and to show how the sources for family and local history research can be used.
Relevant documents, specialist archives and libraries, background reading and other sources are recommended throughout this practical book.
Sue Wilkes is an established expert on industrial heritage and a family historian.

Lancashire Evening Post, December 12th 2012