Who we are
We believe every period home deserves to have its story told with care, accuracy and artistry. Our team brings together years of experience in historical research, heritage writing and thoughtful presentation, working with homeowners who value heritage, craftsmanship and a strong sense of place.
Our approach is personal and collaborative. We work closely with each client, drawing together archival research, local context and the details that help bring a property’s past into focus.
The result is a carefully researched, elegantly written house story that deepens your connection to your home and to its place in the wider story of its village, town or landscape.
Since 2022, we have worked with homeowners across the UK to uncover the histories behind the houses they care so much about - and to take their place in the living story of these remarkable homes.
Our Team
Rebecca Merrifield
FounderRebecca is a historical researcher and house historian from Derbyshire, with a background in marketing and copywriting, a postgraduate degree in historic building conservation and an advanced certificate in genealogical skills and strategies.
She worked in collections and records conservation for the National Trust and Findmypast, which fuelled a passion for uncovering the stories of historic places, leading her to start Pursuing the Past in 2022.
‘The archives are my happy place - there’s nothing like discovering a house in a centuries-old record, knowing how much joy it will bring to the owner.’
Hayley Conick
OPERATIONS DIRECTORHayley read History at Christ’s College, Cambridge, and took part in Channel 4’s Regency Country House Party, living as a lady in 1812.
Her career spans strategy, operations and growth: she led Upwork’s UK expansion, served as UK MD at Too Good To Go, and later served as VP Operations at an Index Ventures-backed startup. She is now combining her business-building experience with her deep love of historic homes at Pursuing the Past.
‘Researching my own 1839 London home has reminded me that houses are never just bricks and mortar; they are biographies in disguise, waiting to be discovered.’
Kim Hunter
HISTORICAL RESEARCHERKim is a genealogist and local historian from Lancashire, with an MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, which she completed with Distinction.
She specialises in researching family and house histories to uncover the stories hidden within historic homes. Through careful archival research, she reveals how homes have evolved over time and the people who once lived there.
‘Researching the history of a house is like piecing together a jigsaw. Every new record reveals a little more of the picture, uncovering the people and stories that shaped a home's past.’
Emily McFarland
HISTORICAL RESEARCHEREmily is a historical researcher and genealogist from County Down, Ireland with an educational background in history. She is currently completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde.
Outside of heritage research, her genealogy work specialises in the Irish and Scottish diaspora in North America.
Emily lives outside Edinburgh and particularly enjoys researching the Scottish properties. She loves to unearth the social story behind each family.
Beth Gare
HISTORICAL RESEARCHERBeth is a genealogist and house historian from Devon, with a background in the arts and a postgraduate diploma in genealogical, palaeographic and heraldic studies.
She has taught genealogy classes, worked on academic projects, and now runs a genealogy research business alongside researching house histories at Pursuing the Past.
Her passion lies in reconnecting people with the past and the landscape through storytelling and documenting often forgotten histories.
Kelly Morrison
WRITER & HERITAGE SPECIALISTKelly is a writer, content curator and researcher from northeast Scotland, with a background in marketing and communications and a postgraduate degree in Heritage and Interpretation.
Her career has taken her to roles with the National Trust for Scotland and various academic research projects, all focused on connecting the past with the present. She is also an author, having written a companion guide to walking Aberdeenshire’s stunning Deeside Way.
‘Every location has a unique story. I’m fascinated by the sense of place - the layers of history, and the people who have shaped it.’
Ellie Ireland
WRITER & EDITOREllie is a freelance content writer and storyteller from Somerset with a BA in Creative Writing and a passion for history in all its forms. Outside of her work at Pursuing the Past, she writes Ancient Echoes, a Substack dedicated to the women of Greek mythology - making complex historical figures accessible, engaging and enjoyable to read about.
That instinct for bringing the past to life with warmth and clarity is at the heart of everything she does. She particularly enjoys getting lost in the histories of houses, uncovering the people and events behind them, and crafting narratives that feel as vivid and human as the lives they document.
Claire Farmer
EDITORClaire is an editor and creative from Newcastle upon Tyne, with a First Class BA (Hons) degree in Photography. Her career has included leading an arts magazine as Editor-in-Chief, alongside roles in fashion and photography production, creative marketing and social media management.
Having re-located back to the North East from London, and now based in Whitley Bay, Claire brings her editorial expertise to every project, reviewing each house history to ensure accuracy, consistency and clarity.
‘I’m endlessly fascinated by the imperfections that survive in the historical record. A crossed-out census entry, a clerical mistake or an unexpected appearance in the archives can add far more colour to a life than a perfectly completed form ever could.’
Imma Ponce
LAYOUT DESIGNERImma is an experienced layout designer from the Philippines. For over eight years, she worked with one of the country’s leading publishing companies, transforming written content and images into polished, engaging pages.
She enjoys bringing structure and creativity together, creating layouts that are visually appealing while keeping the reader’s experience at the heart of every design.
‘For me, layout design is about finding the perfect balance between creativity, clarity, and purpose.’
Tracy Kemp
CLIENT SERVICES & ACCOUNT MANAGEMENTTracy is a sales and marketing specialist with extensive experience working alongside clients in the architecture, design and creative sectors. Her passion for storytelling, research and client relationships makes her a natural fit for Pursuing the Past, where she helps clients uncover the rich histories hidden within their homes and buildings.
Based in Walthamstow, Tracy can often be found exploring the local marshes with her dog, Elsie, or indulging her love of local history and heritage.
‘I love working closely with clients to understand what they hope to achieve. It's wonderful to see the story come together and present a bespoke history that will be treasured for years to come, it's an incredibly rewarding process.’
Suzy Kohane
CLIENT SERVICES & ACCOUNT MANAGEMENTAfter studying Shakespeare and Classical text at the University of Minnesota, Suzy moved to the UK in 2016 to pursue a degree in acting at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
10 years later, she never left and now calls London home. She counts herself lucky to have had a varied career in project management and client services across a variety of sectors. She is also still active in Theatre, TV and Film.
'Stories are everything to me and keep us grounded in our shared human history. Caring and learning about peoples stories and connection to their homes is such a meaningful and fascinating part of what I get to do everyday at Pursuing the Past.'
In the media
