Often we’re not able to share much detail about the work we do for our clients. The transcripts we produce may be from police interviews which are used as evidence in court, or are for the latest medical breakthrough that has yet to be released in the public domain or we’re working for a large corporate where the information is confidential outside of the organisation.
So we’re very excited to be able to share a project we’ve recently been involved in – and it’s a fascinating one at that!
The World Turned Upside Down
The World Turned Upside Down is a wonderful online resource that shares the stories of the people, events and ideas of the British Civil Wars 1638 – 1651. The period has been explored by leading historians.
What makes this resource unique is how it brings history to life with programmes that include fortnightly audio podcasts featuring professional actors who help shine a light on the turbulent times that have shaped the Britain we know today.
These podcasts will soon see you becoming familar with well-known figures, including King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell, while also getting under the skin of the experiences of ordinary people living in the towns and villages of the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. It presents a wonderful opportunity to get a real sense of what life was like.
Civil War Petitions
The Civil War Petitions is another resource, this time revealing much more detail about the human costs of the Civil War by investigating how wounded soldiers, war widows and other bereaved family members petitioned for financial relief. Throughout the Civil Wars governments offered pensions and gratuities to wounded soldiers and the families of those who had died.
In many cases the petitions were scribed by literate acquaintances who helped shape them so they appeared as deserving as possible. But these accounts still needed to be defined in person as true in open court.
These petitions have provided a fascinating insight into the medical care available, the clever ways the wounded and bereaved negotiated with the authorities and how the country as a whole coped with the aftermath of the Civil Wars.
Both projects involved leading historians in the British Civil Wars.
How Fiona Shipley helped bring history to life
Our transcribers working on this project all said the same thing: ‘I’ve learned so much!’
The audio podcasts have been transcribed so you can read through them at your leisure. This helps makes the project even more accessible to many more people. And by unlocking important historical documents and making the content searchable, it makes it an awful lot easier for anyone to find it.
So there you go… our little part of making history come alive!