By remembering our ancestral stories, we begin to heal the unspoken traumas that echo through generations.
I find when I immerse myself in my ancestral lands, it is easier for me to gather the stories of those who walked before me. My dreams, thoughts and facts I have found through research all merge together and the story presents itself, claiming me.
In the lead-up to Samhain, the ancient festival that honours the ancestors, I visited the town of Tadcaster in North Yorkshire. I have ancestors here, going back to the 17th century. In the early 1800’s they were severely impacted by the Enclosures and forcibly removed from their land. Leaving their intergenerational communities, they carved out a life in the slums of Victorian industrial Britain in extreme poverty.
I created this video of my visit to Tadcaster, capturing the discoveries I made, which both heart-wrenching and inspiring. My hope is that it sparks something in you too, an invitation to seek out your own ancestral stories and the healing they hold.
Thank you Nicola it really brings it to life to see your stories and your ancestral lands. Thank you for your work and the help and inspiration you give us in doing so. ❤️
Very moving Nicola; thank you for sharing. What an amazing woman your great, great, great, great grandmother was; to overcome adversity and become a teacher to support and encourage others. You surely have her DNA. X
Thank you Jan, so much. I have goosebumps reading you note here and really appreciate your reflections 🙂
Very emotional Nicola. Having recently moved back to my South Yorkshire home town, I’m beginning to delve into the family tree and the archive of photos my parents passed down to me. It feels so much more powerful to do this on the land of my recent ancestors and I can feel the older stories wanting to be known. Your ancestral work is very inspiring, thank you x
This is so great to hear Tracey, on both counts. I am excited for where this will lead you 🙂
Hello Nicola, than you for making this video. Like your ancestors and many others, my ancestors were affected by the Enclosures too. Our impoverished rights to roam, depleted nature and nature disconnectedness are all a direct result of that. A sad story.
Absolutely Liz. It is so sad. I believe so many of our individual, societal and environmental problems got back to this time.
This is a very moving video. Thank you for sharing it with us. The fact that you weren’t able to so much as set foot on your ancestral fields brought tears to my eyes. Even today, the enclosure acts leave scars, in more ways than one.
Thanks Emma, I am really touched by your comment. The really do.. My research is showing me just how damaging the enclosures are to us now, in so many ways.
Thank you Nicola for sharing your ancestral pilgrimage around Tadcaster.
The stories enliven the lineages
Blessings 🙏
Thank you Rob, this is so lovely to hear your reflection 🙂
Thank you for sharing this story Nicola, it shows such strength & resilience of your ancestors, being uprooted as they were but they’re heart & spirit now, i am sure has returned to their homeland blessings Jac x
Thank you Jac, I am so touched reading your reflection here. I feel that too 🙂