Step into the Past

A family divided. Two divergent paths. Rags and riches. In episode three, Suzannah meets Charlotte, the 4 x great-granddaughter of poet and national treasure William Wordsworth. Exploring Wordsworth House and the surrounding streets in Cockermouth, they retrace the steps of Charlotte's ancestors and discover how two branches of this famous family had very different fates. As the story comes full circle, where will we find the Wordsworth relatives in the 1921 Census. What if you could follow in the footsteps of your ancestors and reveal the hidden tales behind some of the UK's fascinating historical locations? Join historian Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and the experts at Findmypast as they visit a range of locations cared for by the National Trust, to uncover the stories that took place there. Each episode will explore the family tree of a guest whose ancestors played a key role in the history of the property. If you've ever wondered about your own family history, enjoy thinking about some of the mysteries lost to time, or are fascinated by historical records, why not Step into the Past with us.

In collaboration with the National Trust, we meet David Higginson, whose ancestors lived and worked at Quarry Bank, one of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites. Suzannah and David amble around Quarry Bank's vast estate and immerse themselves in the sights and sounds his ancestors experienced. Stopping by key places along the way, including the cottage his 5 x great-grandparents lived in, David learns more about his family's remarkable past. By telling David's story, we're telling thousands of connected British family stories. Stories that echo through time and affect how we view the world around us today.

Ellie from Findmypast chats with Step into the Past host Suzannah Lipscomb about the family history that has made her, her. Suzannah's stories take us from London to India and the United States and we introduce her to some new relatives along the way. We hear how wartime bravery, family tragedy and adventurous ancestors have shaped fascinating chapters of her past. How will Suzannah feel when we reveal her mother's adoption papers could be hiding a secret?

Hello and welcome to Step into the Past – the podcast where we take you back in time to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors, brought to you by Findmypast. Throughout this series we'll be uncovering the family tree of a different guest each week, and we'll be visiting a central location in the lives of their ancestors - a location cared for by the National Trust. What secrets can these locations reveal about the lives of people who lived or worked there through the generations? Hosted by historian, author and TV presenter Professor Suzannah Lipscomb we'll be uncovering the mysteries behind family history and how these can be pieced together using historical records, which we'll be doing plenty of throughout this series.