FATHER and daughter Terry and Claire Wardle have become their own first clients after setting up a Worcester business together.

The aim of their new venture, History House, is to research the history of homes and business premises for their owners, but doing a little research for themselves soon turned into a major project.

The pair had previously worked in offices opposite the multi-storey car park at St Martin's Gate, Worcester, which housed the Grainger porcelain works in the 19th Century.

To their surprise, they found that the building in which they had been providing design training was once Grainger's design and painting department.

"Because we knew the building so well it was fascinating to find out what the workers had been doing there 100 years before. The high quality and innovative work they did was amazing," said Terry.

Retired in 1963

"Grainger's was taken over by Royal Worcester in the late 19th Century, but the last of the Grainger employees only retired in 1963.

"The buildings are still here, much as they might have been when the company left, but sadly they are scheduled for demolition under redevelopment plans."

The two researchers expect to spend around 30 hours researching the history of most buildings, but have already spent about 40 hours on the Grainger project.

"It all depends how far you want to go. We are planning to use the information in a book on Grainger's and the St Martin's Gate site," said Terry.

They are now looking for descendants of the Grainger family and of former employees, such as the Sinton family

Three generations of Sintons were skilled painters at Grainger's and subsequently at Royal Worcester.

Anyone with relevant information can contact History House on 01905 610678.