Hi, I’m David Fernley, a writer and photographer living in North Yorkshire, England. I’ve got a wide range of interests: I’ve been researching my family’s history for ten years and I also study English literature, play the melodeon (a bit like an accordion, but with buttons instead of keys), tinker with my model railway, walk, fish and take landscape and nature photographs.
In my spare time I volunteer for a local dog rescue charity. I have a BA in History and English and an MA in English Literature. I live with my lovely wife, a dog and a horse. (Though the horse, of course, lives outdoors).
About this site
I have something of a butterfly mind and tend to move between different interests, following whatever happens to catch my imagination. It can take me a while to finish things, but I enjoy the process as much as the outcome.
This website reflects that. Rather than focusing on a single niche—I tried that with a family history site and found it too restrictive—I write about whatever interests me at the time.
To give things some shape, posts fall into four main categories:
- Family and Community History – the story of my Fernley, Bradley, Nuttall and Lucy ancestors and the communities and society they were part of.
- Out and About – my wanderings in the countryside, and trips to other interesting places.
- Railways – my long-running attempt to build a model railway in N gauge, and occasional adventures on the real thing.
- Books, films and music – musings about books, mainly fiction and history, old films and music, especially English folk music.
Exploring the site
You can use the menu at the top of each page to browse by category, follow the latest posts, or explore the family pages, which include background material such as family trees, maps, and a timeline (c. 1750–1950).
If you’re new, the cornerstone posts in the right hand sidebar offer a good introduction to each area.
Get in touch
I’d be glad to hear from you. You can leave a comment, get in touch via the contact form, or subscribe for updates by email.
If you prefer, you can also follow along on Facebook Page and on Substack.