About

Pursuing the Past is an historical research agency creating professionally researched, beautifully designed and compellingly written histories of period properties and the people who lived in them.

Rebecca Merrifield

FOUNDER

Rebecca is a historical researcher and house historian from Derbyshire with a background in marketing and copywriting, a postgraduate degree in historic building conservation and an advanced certificate in genealogical skills and strategies.

She worked in collections and records conservation for the National Trust and Findmypast, which fuelled a passion for discovering and telling the hidden stories of historic places, leading her to start Pursuing the Past in 2022.

Rebecca lives on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border and researches houses all over the UK.

‘The archives are my happy place - there’s nothing like discovering a house in a centuries-old record, knowing how much joy it will bring to the owner.’

Kelly Morrison

WRITER & HERITAGE SPECIALIST

Kelly is a writer, content curator and researcher from northeast Scotland, with a background in marketing and communications and a postgraduate degree in Heritage and Interpretation.

Her career has taken her to roles with the National Trust for Scotland and various academic research projects, all focused on connecting the past with the present. She is also an author, having written a wonderful companion guide to walking Aberdeenshire’s stunning Deeside Way.

‘Every location has a unique story. I’m fascinated by the sense of place - the layers of history, and the people who have shaped it.’

Alongside Rebecca and Kelly, our small team includes a talented group of researchers, writers, editors, designers and administrators who support us to produce your house histories, present them beautifully and deliver them on time.

Let’s stay in touch?

Our weekly email digest, If Walls Could Talk, shares the fascinating stories we've uncovered from historic homes, gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how we research your home's past, and brings you exclusive offers on our house history packages.