Why BALH?

Nick Barratt Historian and Author

Where did your ancestors live?

It is impossible to trace the history of one’s family without considering where they lived. Local history societies and one-place study groups have researched and published content that will allow you to place the lives of your ancestors in the context of their local communities, villages, towns and cities as well as some of the key socio-economic factors that lay behind their development. They often use the same sources as family historians, and can help provide an alternative interpretation of a document or suggest new resources to help your research.

Nick Barratt, Historian and Author

Meet the team

Paul Carter Digital Manager

Paul Carter, Digital Manager

Paul, BALH’s Digital Manager, oversees the Association’s online presence and supports members with web and digital setup. He helps societies navigate technical jargon and adapt to online events and talks. A Chartered IT Professional, he founded Beachshore Design in 2005, a web and cloud software development company specialising in history-related projects. Passionate about family and local history, he developed Name & Place, a powerful cloud-based software designed to support local history projects, one-name studies, one-place studies, and house history research. Combining his expertise in software with a love for history, he enjoys helping BALH and its members make the most of digital opportunities.

Paul Carter, Digital Manager