The Committee

Contact the committee here.

Catherine Taylor

Chair

I’m Catherine and I’m Head of Archives and Records for the Rothschild Foundation at Waddesdon Manor. I work with two colleagues in the Archives and Records team to catalogue and make accessible the archives of all areas of Waddesdon as well as offering support for the management of both paper and electronic records across the whole organisation. We also provide data protection advice and support to the organisation. We therefore get to work with the Estate, farm, family and private offices, our wine company, hotel and events teams, as well as supporting the main visitor operations and collections department at Waddesdon Manor itself. It’s never boring.

Alexa Frost

Secretary (Job Share)

I am responsible for the paper and digital archives at Blenheim Palace.

Louise Clarke

Secretary (Job Share)

I’m Louise, Assistant Archivist and Librarian at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. I work with Fran Baker, Archivist and Librarian, to preserve, catalogue and make accessible the extensive archive and library collections that form part of the Devonshire Collection. The Devonshire Collection Archives are a large collection of both family papers and estate material relating to the Dukes and Duchesses of Devonshire, other family members and associated individuals.

Alison Diamond

Treasurer

 

Jane Bradney

Membership Secretary

I care for the family-owned archive and library at Enville Hall in Staffordshire, an ancestral home of the now extinct title, the Earls of Stamford (and Warrington.) Mine is a  part time, singleton role supported by a tiny team of volunteers. The archive comprises largely of family and estate papers whilst the library reflects the 18th and 19th century interests of life in a ‘typical’ country house. Our top priority is care of the collection followed – in no particular order and as resource allows – by cataloguing, access for academic researchers, and support to the family and estate office. As a lone archivist HHAG provides a very welcome network to bounce ideas around and ‘pick people’s brains.’

Martha Naish

Minutes Secretary

I work with Imogen at Wadhurst Park, a private house in East Sussex. We’re a relatively new, small, archive still finding our way within the company. We largely manage paper family and estate records, though we are starting to move into records management and digital records. Our current main focus is cataloguing the paper archive and making digital records accessible to the family. As a small team in the world of owner-managed archives, the HHAG is a great support – whether that’s providing advice on purchases or reassurance that others have dealt with similar owner requests/requirements in the past!

Imogen Blackburne

Web and Communications Officer

I’m Imogen and I work with Martha at Wadhurst Park. We’re unusual within the HHAG as we’re a modern house built in the 1980s on a historic site. Despite our surroundings (and newly renovated archive) we deal with many of the same issues as others within the group, especially in terms of supporting our owner and their family.

Angharad Fortgang

BRA Representative

I’m Angharad, Archivist at The Duchy of Cornwall since 2022, based in the London office. Our collection dates back to the thirteenth century and contains records relating to the estate. I also work on Data Protection matters.

Specialist Repositories Representative – Vacant

Vicky Perry

Training Officer

I’m Vicki and I’ve worked as the Archivist at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, since 2020, having previously spent 15 years working in the archives at Hatfield House, as head of department for the final eight years. I am a lone archivist now (apart from when the Duke is in the archives, continuing the work of his grandfather, who spent most of his time in here!) and I’m currently working on a list of our five rooms full of documents, as well as setting up preventative conservation measures (including lots of hoovering…). Many of the documents have not been touched for decades and are still in the original bundles from when they were sent from the solicitors, so I am enjoying making new discoveries.

Lucy Purvis

Member without Portfolio

I’m Lucy, archivist for the Holkham Estate in Norfolk, I’ve been here since 2017 after working for RBS Group Archives (now NatWest Group) and at Norfolk Record Office. The estate is the ancestral home of the Earls of Leicester and the extensive archive dates back to the 13th century. There is the usual array of estate and mansion, family, business, and property records as you might expect from such archive. Much of my time is spent researching and exploiting the archives for use in and by various areas across the estate and family and, of course, cataloguing historical and modern papers. It’s a fascinating role that draws on my previous experiences but I’m constantly learning and uncovering new facts that I’m eager to share.