About

I have an MA in History and a Higher Certificate in Genealogy from the IHGS (Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies). I previously worked as a librarian and records manager in universities and local government and this has given me an in depth knowledge of records and archives and their historical context.

I was archives researcher on the Channel 4 documentary The Queen’s Lost Family, researching Princess Mary’s archives at Harewood House and I have carried out research for BBC’s Who do you think you are?

I am very active in Hebden Bridge Local History Society where I am a trustee and Assistant Archivist and also provide regular help and advice sessions for those researching their family history. I am on the Committee of Todmorden Antiquarian Society and a guide for Calderdale Heritage Walks planning and running historic walks in the local area.  My study into the surname Pickersgill is registered with the Guild of One Name Studies.

I have a PTLLS qualification to teach adults and run courses on family history and provide one to one tuition.

Based in the South Pennines, I am ideally located to carry out research in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire.  My research specialisms include Roman Catholic records and non-conformist registers.

I am on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Publications

• ‘Exploring house history’, Hebden Bridge Local History Society Newsletter, September 2019
• ‘Pickersgill One Name Study’, The Yorkshire Family Historian, September 2013
• ‘Miles Pickersgill’s crime spree’, Cleveland Family History Society Journal, vol 12, no 3, July 2013
• ‘Village life: a visit to West Stow Anglo-Saxon village (Footsteps)’, BBC History Magazine, August 2004
• ‘The farmyard monastery: a visit to Denny Abbey (Footsteps)’, BBC History magazine, June 2004
• ‘Neck and neck at the races: a visit to Newmarket (Footsteps)’, Living History Magazine, May 2004
• ‘All the fun of the fair: a visit to St Ives (Footsteps)’, Living History magazine, March 2004
• ‘Creator of sylvan scenes: a visit to Fenstanton (Footsteps)’, Living History magazine, December 2003
• ‘Going round the houses: a visit to Flag Fen Bronze Age centre (Footsteps)’, Living History Magazine, November 2003

Testimonials

After many attempts, I’d given up searching for information about my great, great aunt Janie’s death. Anne’s success in finding the date and place of her death has been invaluable and opened so many doors for me. To learn that a young woman dressmaker from Todmorden had become a property-owning spinster who lived and worked as a civil servant in Manchester was an unexpected and very precious piece of information.

I highly recommend Anne to anyone who wants to further their family history research; her expertise and knowledge, developed over many years, is outstanding

Angela Greenwood, Hebden Bridge

With very little to go on initially you have succeeded in tracing my family’s history much further back than I had originally imagined possible. And best of all is the fact one can be quite sure of the results, since they are based on the original documents; some of the early wills are, for someone like myself, virtually unreadable. Your enthusiasm and persistence throughout the search has certainly made a great difference. I also found that the background historical information you were able to bring to the task was valuable.

Dr C., London

Evergreen Ancestry assisted me when I could not move my family history search forward. Their expertise got the search back on track and gave me confidence to proceed. Insightful knowledge of this area, approachability, professionalism and patience made the difference, discovering much more than I could have achieved on my own.

Mr A., Bedfordshire

I just want to say that your work is quite splendid. It is so beautifully presented it is a pleasure to read and it reflects the care you have taken with every aspect of the work.

Mrs F., Cambridgeshire