Date :
26/07/2013
Taking guests down to your local is one method of furthering ancestral research, but Olwyn and Barry Jack also say providing a bit of table space and a computer can go a long way.
At Duntrune House, Olwyn and Barry Jack have made a passion for genealogy, family history and local heritage the reason so many visitors return to their acclaimed guest house.
Olwyn started researching the history of Duntrune back in 1981, and the couple have been building their experience ever since. Over the years, they have compiled a small genealogy library with items bought cheaply at second hand bookshops, charity outlets and family history fairs.
“The library is great for guests, but online is really important too,” says Olwyn.
“We list resources on a dedicated page of our website, with free computer and wi-fi access to enable guests to further their research when they get back to base in the evenings.
“We have a gazetteer and street directory from the late 1800s,” she says.
“There are books showing old photographs of the area, and old maps which are especially useful for tracking down addresses which have changed or disappeared.”
For example, the local inn, the Cambustay in Broughty Ferry, was for years known as the Kittiwake, and is often used as a venue to introduce guests to helpful individuals. It’s another way to integrate ancestor hunters to Scottish contemporary culture.
Getting to know local historians, who can help with information or even act as guides to meaningful places, and places with history attached, will also help ensure guests get the most out of their visit.
“It’s important to let guests know what resources there are locally,” says Olwyn.
“Advise guests to be prepared before they come, and maintain contact after they go home. This means they arrive prepared and are also more likely to come back.”