About Furness Whisper

The Researcher – Robert Fleming (Rob)

Rob has been passionate about history from a very young age, travelling up and down the UK visiting historic sites with his family whilst collecting small metal knight models. Known as "the cheeky one" by his team, Rob has no fear in emailing, sending letters, or calling to get more information or find new leads for research projects. He specialises in uncovering historical facts and evidence, and writes the stories and blog content for our website.

The Historian & Author – Gill Jepson

Gill is a well-known author from South Cumbria and founder member of 'Furness Abbey Fellowship', a voluntary group working alongside English Heritage to support the abbey. She fell in love with Furness Abbey from a young age — the cool shade of ancient stone, the smell of grass and wildflowers — visiting with her parents every weekend for picnics. A keen local historian and former teacher, Gill has researched the history of Barrow-in-Furness extensively. She likes nothing better than exploring the beautiful Furness peninsula, which provides great inspiration for her stories and ensures accuracy and depth in our publications.

The Archive Volunteer – Les Eveson

Les is a vital member of our team, bringing an exceptional eye for detail that catches what others might miss. Throughout COVID, he worked at Signal Film & Media on the Sankey family photograph collection whilst simultaneously volunteering at Barrow Cumbria Archives. His meticulous approach to archival work and ability to spot crucial historical details make him invaluable to our research. Les's expertise in handling delicate historical materials ensures we gather the most accurate research material possible.

Visual Storyteller – Marc Butterfield

Marc caught our eye with his exceptional "then and now" Reels videos on Facebook — overlaying old photographs onto modern-day footage, with the contemporary scene visible around the edges. His natural ability to understand historical perspectives and recognise subtle architectural details lets him recreate exact viewpoints from decades past with remarkable accuracy. We were so impressed that we asked him to work through our extensive collection of old photographs to create our Nowstalgia series, helping people see their local area through fresh eyes.

Local Archaeologist – Dan Elsworth

We collaborate closely with Dan, who provides expert knowledge on archaeological sites, finds, and historical contexts throughout Furness.

Greenlane Archaeology Ltd
Lower Brook Street, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7EE
01229 588 500
info@greenlanearchaeology.co.uk

Archival Research

Our archive volunteer has access to historical documents, records, and materials — the texture of old paper, faded ink, and forgotten signatures — that form the foundation of our research work.

Field Investigation

Our researcher conducts field investigations and detailed analysis to uncover historical facts and evidence about our area.

Community Stories

We gather and document stories, memories, and knowledge from local residents to build a complete picture of our area's history.

Nowstalgia Collection

Our visual storyteller creates stunning "then and now" comparisons — overlaying historical photographs onto modern footage, so you can see cobbled streets become tarmac, and empty fields become bustling town centres. Each image shows how our area has changed over time.