Kathrina Perry - Local Historian

01/05/2026

Ever feel like your local history research has hit a brick wall? 🧱🔍

I know how frustrating it can be to hunt for that one missing piece of the puzzle. That’s why I’m so excited to share this! The Northamptonshire Record Society just released a fantastic new guide packed with local sources and expert tips for researching online.

Whether you're tracing your family tree or uncovering the secrets of your own street, this is a goldmine. 💎

If you need a hand navigating these archives or want to dive deeper into our local past, I’m here to help!

CTA: Check out the guide here and send me a DM if you’d like some personalized help with your next project! 👇

History is a conversation between the present and what remains of the past, most of which was not written or created with the aim of helping future...

30/04/2026

It’s been a while

From the airwaves of NLive to the pages of Kelly’s Directory: Kicking off Local History Month.

05/04/2026

I’ve been working on something special — and I’m excited to share it with you.

I’ve created a free Multi‑Age History Scavenger Hunt page, designed so families, schools, and curious walkers can explore any town or village together. Everyone looks at the same building, but each age group gets its own prompt — from toddlers to teens to adults.

This first theme is all about spotting a building that looks old and noticing the clues that hint at its past. It’s simple, welcoming, and perfect for a weekend walk, a school activity, or a half‑term adventure.

You can download the free page here:
👉https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cOMsJFoiN7sWi-6QaiTml6VYA1uF2aQ6/view?usp=drive_link

If you use it, I’d genuinely love to see what you discover — feel free to share a photo or tag me. And if people enjoy this one, I’ll release more themes soon.

Happy history hunting!

27/03/2026

It was a pleasure to be part of the judging panel for the Blue Plaque scheme. Here's a blog post I wrote for the University of Northampton on the significance of Blue Plaques.

Discover the hidden stories behind West Northamptonshire’s iconic blue plaques! 💙✨ Dive into our latest blog to explore how these markers celebrate local history, remarkable people, and the vibrant heritage that shapes our community.

Curious about the plaques you pass every day? Find out more: https://ow.ly/XHuH50YyF1k

17/03/2026

I was lucky enough to be part of the judging panel for these. Some really interesting people who represent the local community.

16/03/2026

After being promoted on the radio on Friday this week's newsletter is live

A week of Local History in practice

13/03/2026

So today I did a thing….

I was on Radio Northampton talking about my research and how women in the boot and shoe industry had a lasting impact on Northampton.

If you want to read more and be kept up to date with future projects or would like me to be involved in future projects feel free to contact me or subscribe to my substack

https://kathrinaperryhistory.substack.com

09/03/2026

🌒 Something is stirring…

A quiet project has been taking shape behind the scenes — piece by piece, clue by clue.

Soon, a new doorway into the past will open… but not just yet.

For now, all I can say is this:
✨ Keep your eyes open.
✨ Watch this space.
✨ The reveal is closer than you think.

History is about to get a little more intriguing.

Want to be the first to know? Join the list https://kathrinaperryhistory.substack.com/

06/02/2026

Did you know that Northamptonshire’s history is much more than just old buildings? 🏛️

I’m starting something new! I’ve launched a Substack newsletter to share the layers of our town that often get overlooked in the history books.

I’ll be diving deep into:

🚂 Transport History: From the old tram routies to the rails that built our economy.

👩‍👧 Women’s History: Celebrating the local women who led movements and shaped our community.

🌳 Family History: The stories of the everyday people who lived, worked, and grew up in our neighbourhoods.

📍 Local Landmarks: The "then and now" of the streets we walk every day.

Our county has so many secrets hiding in plain sight. If you’re a history buff, a long-time resident, or just curious about the roots of our community, I’d love for you to subscribe!

Read the first post and join the journey here: 👉

I'm Kathrina Perry, your local historian. Let's preserve and celebrate our heritage together. Share your own memories and follow for updates. History lives in us all! Click to read Kathrina Perry, a Substack publication. Launched a few seconds ago.

25/05/2025

Thank you to those who attended my talk at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery on Thursday. I hope you found it interesting.

Now back to writing this PhD!

10/04/2025

If you’re at a loose end on a Thursday morning and fancy listening about some local women spending their husbands money, I’m doing a talk at the Northampton Art and Shoe Museum on May 22nd.

A series of six diverse talks taking place between May and July 2025

22/02/2025