Branching out to discover the past.

Byline: By Matt Casey 

Meet the children whose family tree stretches back a remarkable 500 years.

It's thanks to their grandad that Rachel Jackson, 12, Alex Jackson, Emily Turnbull, both nine, and Lucy Turnbull, six, know they are the 18th successive descendants from Turnbull's Nook on Tyneside.

The area was bought by Henry Turnbull from the Barony of Benwell in 1526 and is identified on a map of Elswick Township in 1743.

The children's grandad, Albert Turnbull, was fascinated when he read the story of Turnbull's Nook and it prompted him to take up genealogy as a hobby.

That was 33 years ago and it took him another 20 years before he was to complete his research into his family tree

Now 69, Albert, of Duckpool Lane North, Whickham, says the full story of the Turnbull tribe has never been published and believes it is of great local interest. Although the Turnbulls originated in Scotland, by far the longest recorded pedigree belongs to the Turnbulls of Tyneside, he says.

It began with Henry Turnbull, born about 1500, and now stretches to Arthur's four grandchildren, who live in Gateshead.

Albert started work as a coachbuilder and then lectured on the subject at the then Gateshead Technical College for 34 years, where he also taught family history.

Rachel and Alex his daughter Hayley's and her husband Kevin's children, and Emily and Lucy are the children of his son, Ian, and his wife Janice.

Albert said: "I have always been fascinated by family trees so I decided to begin delving into my own family history.

"I just love doing it, it's detective work, really. I think it is important for people to know who their descendants were and my grandchildren already know more about theirs than most other children."

His hobby has already earned him praise from the Royal Archives based at Windsor Castle after he wrote to say he had traced his line of descent back to Edward III's third son, the Duke of Clarence, in the 1400s.

It was acknowledged as the longest line of descent provable in English law.

Registrar Elizabeth Cuthbert replied: "You are certainly to be congratulated on your genealogical research which has led you so far back in time.

"We often receive letters from those who are tracing their families back to various cadet branches of the Royal Family but few of them have established the links as clearly as you have managed to."