Launching a new business is always a moment of reflection as much as anticipation, and for me, the launch of Heritage Now marks the natural next step in a lifelong relationship with history. This venture is not simply about offering research services; it is about bringing the past into sharper focus, ensuring it is understood with accuracy, care, and curiosity. Heritage Now exists because I believe historical detail matters—not just for its own sake, but because it gives meaning and structure to the stories we tell about who we are and where we came from.
My path to becoming a historian and scholar has been shaped by both academic study and professional practice. I hold a BA in History & Media and a Master’s in Social History from Leeds Beckett University, where I developed a deep appreciation for how historical narratives are formed and shared. Social history, in particular, taught me to look beyond kings and wars and toward the rhythms of everyday life: how people dressed, what they ate, how they spoke, and how they navigated their worlds. These details are often dismissed as minor, but in truth they are what make historical events real and relatable. Without them, the past becomes flat and abstract.
That said, my love of history is not limited to the small and specific. I also greatly enjoy researching the larger movements and defining moments that have shaped societies—revolutions, cultural shifts, and periods of rapid change. Understanding the wider historical picture provides the framework into which smaller details can fit. Big history and small history are not in competition; they depend on one another. It is only by combining the two that we gain a full and meaningful view of the past.
This belief—that small details are essential to understanding big moments—sits at the heart of Heritage Now. It is easy to remember dates and outcomes, but harder to grasp the texture of lived experience. I think it is important to get the little things right in history in order to cement the big historical events. Knowing the exact fabric of a dress, the slang of a decade, or the layout of a street can anchor larger narratives of revolution, migration, or reform. These details do not distract from history; they strengthen it. They turn timelines into lives.
This philosophy also underpins my upcoming presentation at the History Through Fiction Conference: A Writing Revolution. At this event, I will be exploring how historical accuracy—especially in seemingly monotonous areas—supports powerful storytelling. Fictional narratives that respect historical reality are better equipped to challenge modern assumptions and illuminate the complexity of the past. When writers and researchers collaborate, they create something richer than either discipline can manage alone. My presentation will argue that detail is not pedantry; it is respect for the people who once inhabited these worlds.
My professional experience has been shaped by this intersection of research and storytelling. I currently work as the Historical Content Specialist at History Through Fiction, where I support writers by ensuring their narratives are grounded in solid historical evidence. This role has sharpened my eye for inconsistencies and reinforced my love for the quiet work of checking, comparing, and verifying. Alongside this, I write historical articles for Harrogate Life, translating academic knowledge into accessible, engaging pieces for a wider audience. These roles have shown me how history can thrive when it is both accurate and approachable, local and global.
One of the joys of my work lies in the areas many people find dull. I find the monotonous historical details genuinely fascinating: the regulations governing candle use, the evolution of shoe fastenings, the slow shifts in domestic architecture. At the same time, I take equal pleasure in exploring sweeping narratives and major historical developments, tracing how individual lives are shaped by broader forces. Finding anachronisms is something I take pleasure in, not as a form of criticism but as a form of care. Each corrected mistake is an opportunity to improve understanding and deepen immersion. It is a small act of restoration, returning something to its proper place in time.
Heritage Now brings all of this together into a dedicated service for clients who care about historical authenticity. Whether supporting writers, organisations, or heritage projects, the aim is the same: to help the past be represented responsibly and vividly. In an age of fast information and surface-level facts, there is something quietly radical about slowing down and getting things right. History deserves patience, and it deserves precision.
As I launch Heritage Now, I do so with both pride and excitement. I am excited to contribute to keeping history alive through research and through collaboration with future clients who share that commitment. Every project is another chance to protect the integrity of the past while helping others bring it to life. If we treat history with attention and respect, it rewards us with clarity, empathy, and connection. And that, ultimately, is what Heritage Now is about: honouring the past by understanding it properly—detail by detail, story by story.