About Heritage Script

I've spent over 30 years working as a legal secretary at some of London's most prestigious law firms. During those decades, I became intimately familiar with legal language, document structures, and the peculiarities of historical legal writing — the foundation of my palaeography and transcription work today.

But my real passion has always been family history. I understand the frustration of finding a crucial document — especially for researchers in the USA, Australia, and Canada who've traced British ancestry but cannot read secretary hand or other historical scripts from the 17th–19th centuries.

That's why I founded Heritage Script — a specialist palaeography and transcription service. Based in West Sussex, England, I'm perfectly positioned to provide accurate transcriptions of British historical documents for genealogy researchers worldwide.

Historical ledger with quill pen and ink

My Expertise

Legal Background

30+ years as a legal secretary in top London law firms gave me deep knowledge of legal terminology, document types, and archaic legal language that appears in wills, deeds, and court records.

Paleography Skills

Trained in reading historical handwriting styles including secretary hand, court hand, and various 17th-19th century scripts. I can decipher what looks like incomprehensible scrawl to most people.

Understanding Context

As an active family historian myself, I understand what information matters to researchers. I don't just transcribe mechanically—I can highlight names, dates, and places that will be important to your research.

Note: I provide transcription services only. I am not a trained genealogist and do not offer research services or advice on research strategy.

Attention to Detail

Legal work demands precision. Every name, date, and place could be crucial to your research. I mark uncertain readings clearly so you know exactly what's definite and what needs verification.

Local Knowledge

Based in West Sussex, with particular expertise in Sussex and South-East England records—though I work with documents from anywhere in the English-speaking world.

Professional Standards

Every transcription is delivered via Google Docs — clean, properly formatted, viewable on any device without specialist software. A Word document version is available on request.

Professional Affiliations

Sussex Family History Group

Active member of the Sussex Family History Group, engaged with the family history community and committed to maintaining the highest professional transcription standards.

The National Archives

Volunteer transcriber for The National Archives, contributing to making Britain's historical records accessible to researchers worldwide.

Published Work

Unlocking the Past: Transcribing Historical Documents

Sussex Family History Group Journal, 2026

A practical guide for family historians on deciphering old handwriting, understanding legal terminology, and getting the most from historical documents. Features a case study of a 1760 will belonging to a member of the notorious Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers — and an unexpected personal connection to the document's subject.

A preview of the research behind this article is available now: The Money Man of the Hawkhurst Gang: What a Will Reveals →

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