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First World War records are among the free records on Ancestry

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How to view Ancestry records for free

Patients at Bethlem lunatic asylum, c.1860

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What is a lunatic asylum?

Illegitimate child

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How to find the father of an illegitimate child

An early photograph of a baptism ceremony, c. 1860 baptism records

How to find baptism records

Victorian boxer Jack Wannop lands an uppercut on Birmingham's Josh Cosnett in 1890

Bare-knuckle boys: The history of Victorian boxing and wrestling

Old photographs

Old photographs: Your complete guide to cleaning, storing and displaying your family photographs

A funeral in Florence, c. 1945 Italian ancestry

Overseas ancestry

How to research Italian ancestry

The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in the early 18th century

What were the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens?

Debbie Kennett conducted a one-name study into the surname Cruwys

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How to start a one-name study

Irish ancestry. Farmers in Glenshesk, County Atrim, c. 1900

Overseas ancestry

Irish ancestry: How to trace Irish ancestry

Prime minister Winston Churchill inspecting Home Guard volunteers

What was the Home Guard?

Imperial toast between Wilhelm and Franz Joseph royal ancestry

Getting started

Royal ancestry: How to know if you have royal ancestry

Nurses at the Sir William Hospital treat shell shock victims during the First World War with experimental medical equipment

What is shell shock?

STR and SNP DNA

What is STR and SNP DNA?

Shop front 1829

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Where to find historical trade directories online