Andrew Percival's Notes on Old Peterborough starts with a simple discovery: a dusty box in the family attic. Inside are the jottings, sketches, and personal diaries of his great-grandfather, a man who lived and worked in Peterborough in the early 1900s. But these aren't straightforward records. They're fragmented, sometimes coded, and point toward events and people that official history has forgotten.

The Story

The book follows Percival's journey as he tries to make sense of these inherited fragments. He isn't a professional historian, and that's what makes it compelling. He walks the same streets his ancestor did, comparing old sketches with modern buildings. He puzzles over abbreviations, follows leads about a disputed property deal, and tries to identify the people in faded photographs. The central thread is his attempt to uncover the truth behind a local controversy his great-grandfather alludes to but never fully explains—something involving a failed business, a public falling-out, and a name that seems to have been deliberately scrubbed from local records. The story is the hunt itself.

Why You Should Read It

What I loved most was the feeling of being part of the investigation. Percival doesn't present himself as an expert with all the answers. He shares his dead-ends, his lucky breaks, and his changing theories. It makes you think about the layers of history under your own feet. The book is quietly powerful in how it shows that history isn't just about kings and battles; it's about the butcher, the baker, the clerk who left odd notes behind. You get a real sense of the man behind the notes—his worries, his sense of humor, his pride—and of the author trying to connect with him across a century.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect read for anyone who loves local history, mysteries, or genealogy. It's especially great if you find big history books a bit dry. Percival's personal stake in the story gives it heart and momentum. You'll finish it looking at your own hometown with new, curious eyes, wondering what stories are tucked away in its attics and alleyways.