Whistlestop Xmas History Tour : how your ancestors decorated for Christmas!

[A version of this article first appeared in Discover Your Ancestors Online Periodical - December 2015]. http://www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk/ Link to buy my books Amazon.co.uk: Ruth A Symes: books, biography, latest update Girl's Own Paper December 20th 1884, Vol VI, No.260. Greenery and fruit, sparkle and snow, colourfully-dressed tables and walls inscribed with Yuletide mottos - Christmases past were decorated using much... Continue Reading →

December 1, 2025 1

Weddings That Went Wrong

Delighted to announce the publication of my article on Marriage Mishaps in November 2025’s Discover Your Ancestors online periodical (by subscription). http://www.discoveryourancestors.com No-shows at the altar, mixups with the marriage vows and umpteen weddings that were stalled at the eleventh hour !

November 5, 2025 0

The Queen’s Halloween

by Ruth A. Symes [This article was first published in Scots Heritage Magazine in 2016] Balmoral in earlier days, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Balmoral in 1848 after spending a happy holiday in the Highlands. In 1853, the original house (believed to date from the 13th century) was knocked down and a new, larger... Continue Reading →

October 23, 2025 3

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑