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

David Killingray Trustee

David Killingray

David, honoured to serve as a BALH Trustee, has a diverse academic background spanning economics, education, and history. After studying at LSE, he taught in Britain and Tanzania before earning a PhD in African history at SOAS and becoming a university lecturer. His research covers Africa, the Caribbean, the Black diaspora, and local history, fields that inform each other. A lifelong Kent resident, he has authored several works on the county’s history, including studies on church and Christian missions. Now in active retirement, he continues to research, write, and promote historical integrity and engagement.

David Killingray, Trustee