Touching The Past

History is All Around Us

Everywhere we go we are surrounded by history, whether it’s your family’s history, the history of your house, or just local history, it’s there all around us, often going unnoticed and untouched.

But have you ever paused to think about the history woven into the buildings, roads, and landscapes that you pass by every day? The houses we live in, the fields we walk through, the rivers we cross—these aren’t just fixtures of modern life. They’re threads in a tapestry that stretches back through the passages of time. Everything that we see today would have been seen by our ancestors, or if like me, you live somewhere that your ancestors never frequented, then someone else’s ancestors. Incredible when you stop to take that in for a moment.

In my own village, this sense of history is impossible to ignore. My home, chosen for its picturesque view of the village green, looks out onto a massive oak tree, and as I write this, I find myself staring into the soul of that tree, wondering how many hundreds of years it has stood there, quietly observing the world around it. This tree has seen countless seasons come and go. It has been a silent witness to laughter and tears, celebrations and farewells. How many people have stood under its shade, pondering their lives or exchanging stories? What secrets does it hold? Perhaps it was once a meeting spot for villagers, its trunk a backdrop for announcements, disputes, or romances. Perhaps it saw soldiers march by on their way to war, their future uncertain, their return not guaranteed.

What’s even more fascinating is how much of this history lies hidden, waiting to be rediscovered. The old pub you drive past might have been a coaching inn centuries ago, a place where travelers stopped to rest and exchange news. That quiet footpath could once have been a bustling trade route. The river winding lazily through the countryside might have carried goods, gossip, and even secrets downstream.

Taking the time to reflect on these connections can change the way we see the world around us. It invites us to pause and imagine life as it once was, to consider the people who lived in our villages, towns, or cities before us. What challenges did they face? What joys did they find? What wisdom might they pass on to us if they could?

For me, the oak tree on the village green serves as a powerful reminder of these questions. It stands as a bridge between the past and the present, a living monument to time’s passage. Perhaps the next time you step outside, you’ll find your own oak tree—or an old stone wall, a winding road, or a weathered building—and take a moment to wonder about the stories it holds.

The Secrets Held Within These Four Walls

In a similar way, I wonder what secrets a house might hold? What stories lie behind its front door? Every home has a history, a unique tale of the people who lived there before us, the lives they led, and the marks they left behind—both seen and unseen.

Although I’ve never undertaken a formal house history project, I can see why it would be so captivating. Whether you study a single house, an entire street, or even a whole village, these are all ways to unearth the layers of history that surround us. Through them, we gain a better understanding of what came before us and how our own lives fit into the bigger picture.

One of the most fascinating places in my village is the local pub, where on the wall hangs a map from the 1880s, clearly marking the pub as a feature of the village even back then.

I couldn’t resist delving into its history, so I embarked on a mini “pub study,” tracing it through census records from 1861 to the 1939 Register. It was incredible to see the names of past landlords, each leaving their own unique imprints on the pub’s history. Imagine the scenes that unfolded over those decades and the stories that were swapped over pints of beer. It’s humbling to think that I now tread the same floorboards as all those who came before. The past feels just a little closer when you uncover these personal connections.

History: A Living Tapestry

If you’ve ever been curious about the stories behind your own home or village. You might uncover surprising connections to broader events or learn about the lives of ordinary people whose footsteps you now follow. Even a brief glimpse into the past can make you feel more rooted in the present.

The beauty of history is that it’s not just about kings and queens or grand events. It’s about the everyday—the homes we live in, the streets we walk, and the places where communities gather. So, the next time you sit at your kitchen table, step into your local pub, or pass by an old building, take a moment to wonder: What secrets does this place hold? What stories might it tell if it could speak?

Uncovering Stories Hidden in Plain Sight

You don’t need to be in a record office or archive to experience history. It’s all around you, waiting to be noticed, if only you stop and open your eyes. History isn’t a static thing confined to dusty books or museum exhibits—it’s a living, breathing entity. It takes many forms: papers, documents, artifacts, buildings, photographs, books, letters, newspapers, and so much more. At its core, history is the study of past events and the written accounts that document them. But it’s so much more than dates and facts in a textbook. History is the story of who we are, where we’ve come from, and how we’ve arrived at this moment. It provides us with a sense of identity and gives context to our lives, helping us understand the world around us and how we might shape the future.

But above all, history is about people. It’s about how and where they lived, the challenges they faced, the triumphs they celebrated, and the legacies they left behind. The walls of our homes, the streets we stroll down, and the landmarks we pass carry echoes of those who came before. These connections remind us that history isn’t just something to study—it’s something to experience, to question, and to cherish.

So, the next time you step outside, take a moment to pause and look around. There is a story and a piece of history on every corner; we just need to look a little harder sometimes to find it. It might be in the bricks of an old house, the name of a forgotten lane, or the weathered gravestone in a quiet churchyard. These stories, however small or ordinary they may seem, form part of our shared history. It’s our job to look for them, record them, and most importantly, to ensure that we tell them. Let the past breathe life into the present, and let it inspire you to learn more, dig deeper, and share those stories. Because in the end, history is not just about understanding the past—it’s about understanding ourselves.

Because history isn’t just something you read in books or see in museums. It’s all around us, hidden in plain sight, waiting for us to notice it.

If you wish to read more about some of the local history research projects that I have undertaken then you might be interested in some of my other blogs, which I have included in the links below.

Danger UXB – The Story of Six Brave Royal Engineers Who Died at Nantwich

The Battle of Nantwich

The Parson’s Nose

Why not visit my new website:

Old Palace School Bombing

All My Blogs For Family Tree Magazine in one handy place

Copyright © 2025 Paul Chiddicks | All rights reserved