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Helen M. Whittle BA(Hons)

This Member is not accepting research commissions. For research requests please look at an alternative Member.

I am a freelance [since 1989 - full time since 2000, now retired] historical researcher working for clients on genealogical matters as well as many other historical projects - e.g. for authors of books and magazine articles; for overseas MA and PhD students; in connection with legal matters [litigation and intestacy], art history, property histories etc. I deal with all types of archival record from c. 1400 to date. I also write articles for various publications. I am currently working on several different book projects based on my PhD thesis which related to society in Sussex in the Civil War/Interregnum period c. 1635-1665.

My first book, 'The Clergy of Sussex c.1635-c.1665' was published 28 September 2019 and is now available at West Sussex Record Office or on Amazon. This contains data for approx. 725 clergy who served the county during this turbulent period. A second edition (with minor revisions) was published in March 2023. I have collaborated on a book of essays relating to the clergy of the Interregnum period which was published 23rd June 2021 ['Church & People in Interregnum Britain' (ed. Fiona McCall)]. A volume in the Sussex Record Society series which contains abstracts of 302 wills of the clergy who served Sussex across the civil war and interregnum period has also been completed and was published (April 2023). This covers an overall period c.1635-1720. I am currently planning a further volume for SRS covering TNA series E317 (Parliamentary Surveys) for the county of Sussex

I am Editor of West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archive Society, and organised the 2019 annual Conference 'Sussex 1635-c.1665: The Impact of the Civil Wars and Interregnum', which was held at the Assembly Rooms in Chichester on 28th September 2019.

I am now retired but I am always happy to hear from past clients, provide guidance to clients and colleagues and act as mentor to newcomers

I am a former member of the Board of Assessors for AGRA, stepping down in early March 2024 as, sadly, I was unable to give this the amount of time required .