Discover your family story in online archives from the South West of England

Cornwall is a historic county and a recognised Celtic nation. Its coastal location made it an ideal spot for smuggling in the 18th and 19th centuries. Do you have proud Cornish people in your family tree?

Largely rural with a low population density, Devon has a rich history of metal production dating back to ancient times. Fishing and farming were also important industries for Devonians over the decades.

Once a largely agricultural county, Dorset is home to the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. For generations, visitors have been coming to the county to see its fascinating landforms, like Chesil Beach and Lulworth Cove.

A range of diverse industries has sprung up in Gloucestershire over the centuries. Iron, shipbuilding, wool, silk-weaving, clay, rope and sailcloth trades all thrived here. Historically, Bristol was part of Gloucestershire.

Home to the world-famous Glastonbury music festival, Somerset has deep-rooted links with religion and mythology. The county has been a major producer of cider and dairy products for generations.

Wiltshire is famed for its Neolithic sites, Stonehenge and Avebury, and was a major wool-producing area for centuries. One of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta can be seen at Salisbury Cathedral.