About Us
Our journey in preserving Britain's cultural heritage
A Commitment to Heritage Since 2006
Branch-cypress emerged from a shared conviction among a small group of historians and conservationists: that Britain's extraordinary cultural legacy deserved more than mere academic study. It demanded active stewardship, community engagement, and a bridge between scholarly research and public appreciation.
What started in a converted barn near Stow-on-the-Wold has evolved into a nationwide practice. Yet our founding principles remain intact. We still prioritise depth over breadth, meaningful encounters over superficial tourism, and lasting preservation over quick fixes.
Heritage as Living Memory
We reject the notion that heritage exists only in museums under glass. Cultural inheritance lives in the stories communities tell, the buildings they inhabit, the landscapes they tend, and the traditions they practise. Our work aims to activate these connections rather than fossilise them.
This perspective shapes every service we offer. Our tours avoid scripted recitations in favour of conversational explorations that respond to participants' questions and interests. Our research projects connect present-day families and organisations to their documented pasts. Our consulting work balances conservation imperatives with practical contemporary needs.
Principles That Guide Our Work
Scholarly Rigour
Every claim we make rests on documented evidence and established historical methodology. We cite our sources and acknowledge uncertainty where it exists.
Community Focus
Heritage belongs to communities. We prioritise local voices, indigenous knowledge, and grassroots preservation efforts alongside institutional partnerships.
Accessible Education
Historical knowledge should never be gatekept. We design programmes for diverse audiences and maintain accessible pricing structures.
Environmental Responsibility
Cultural and natural heritage intertwine. We advocate for sustainable tourism practices and ecologically sensitive conservation approaches.
A Multidisciplinary Team
Our staff includes qualified historians, archaeologists, archivists, architectural conservators, and heritage interpreters. Several hold postgraduate degrees from institutions including Oxford, Edinburgh, and the Courtauld Institute.
Beyond formal credentials, our team members bring practical field experience from excavations, archive projects, and conservation works across the British Isles. This combination of academic knowledge and hands-on skill ensures that our advice remains grounded in real-world constraints.
Collaborative Networks
Effective heritage work requires collaboration. We maintain working relationships with English Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw, the National Trust, and numerous county archaeological trusts. These partnerships grant our clients access to expertise, archives, and sometimes restricted sites that independent researchers cannot easily reach.
We also work closely with university departments, local historical societies, and community heritage groups. These grassroots connections ensure our work remains relevant to the people whose heritage we study and preserve.
Since 2006, we have completed over 400 heritage projects, guided more than 12,000 tour participants, and contributed to the preservation of 35 listed buildings.