Discover your family’s history in online archives from the East of England

Do you have family links to Leighton Buzzard, Luton or Biggleswade? If your ancestors lived in Bedfordshire, chances are they earned a living through sheep farming or the wool and lace industries that once flourished in the county.

In the Middle Ages, the cloth industry was important to the development of Essex. Other trades such as salt production, making cutlery and growing saffron brought prosperity to the area. While the county town, Chelmsford is known as the birthplace of radio.

If your research leads to Huntingdonshire, your ancestors may have connections with one of the estates held there by Oliver Cromwell’s family. The county is primarily agricultural and is cultivated for cereals and sugar beets. Its clay deposits also make it an ideal centre for brickmaking.

Historically, Suffolk's economy depended heavily on agriculture, though at one time it also had flourishing craft industries like straw-plaiting and horsehair weaving. On the coast, shipyards and fishing fleets provided employment. Did your ancestors hone their skills in Lavenham, Babergh or Woodbridge?