Philip Gorton has been studying local history since childhood. In the late 1970s, he began to develop his skills in using records and archives when researching for his degree dissertation on the urban development of Victorian Godalming. He has since gone on to study Latin and palaeography,
knowledge of which is essential to read the documents commonly encountered in local history research.
As well as being a very experienced researcher, he is an active member of the Domestic Building Research Group that surveys and records traditional buildings in Surrey. He has been taking commissions since 1993 and has completed histories of around ninety houses in addition to other research work.
Sally Gorton co-writes the histories and assists with some of the research.
In addition, she is a trained artist and accepts commissions to paint pictures of the houses that we research.
Have look at her website for more information:
www.sallygorton.co.uk
This watercolour painting of Upper Highfield Farm in Thursley, Surrey, was one of her commissions.