Researching the history of Wolverhampton has proved a rewarding experience for Jennifer Davies and Lynda Holland.

The friends have spent the past year studying the wills of citizens who died in the 18th century and have now won the Local History Bursary from city archivist David Bishop and a £50 cheque each from the sponsor, the Express & Star.

The money will help the pair to continue with the project that has unearthed fascinating information about the role of professionals during that period.

Mrs Holland, a mother of two from Stafford, said: “Our research has shown that the professionals did not have as much property and were not as well paid as tradespeople, but socially still had better standing in the community.”

The friends met years ago while working together in the computing department of the University of Wolverhampton and joined forces to research wills after Mrs Davies, a grandmother from Regent Road, Penn, started looking into the history of her family. The pair have concentrated on wills of those who died in Wolverhampton between 1780 and 1789. They were among 10 entrants selected to give a presentation on their research to the Third Wolverhampton Local History Symposium at Bantock House. It helped Mr Bishop and the other judges choose them as the winners.

“We were impressed with the depth of their work thus far and could also see how it could develop in the future,” Mr Bishop said.