Privacy Policy

Who we are

This website is operated by The Black Archive Research, a historical evidence consultancy based in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Our website address is theblackarchiveresearch.com. You can contact us at enquiries@theblackarchiveresearch.com.

The Black Archive Research is the trading name of Stephen Redpath, a sole trader based in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

What data we collect

When you submit an enquiry through our contact form, we collect the following information:

• Your organisation or institution name
• The nature of your enquiry
• A description of the historical subject, claim or period you need examined
• Your contact email address

We do not collect any additional personal data unless you choose to provide it in your message.

Where you consent to analytics cookies (see Cookies, below), this site uses Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate website usage — such as which pages are visited, how visitors arrived at the site, and general engagement patterns. This data is used to improve the site and is not used to identify you personally.

Where you consent, this site also uses Microsoft Clarity, a behaviour-analytics tool that records anonymised session information such as mouse movement, scrolling and click patterns, to help us understand how visitors use the site and identify usability issues. Neither tool loads or collects any data until you have actively accepted analytics cookies. We do not use advertising networks, retargeting, or any tool that builds an advertising profile of individual visitors.

Why we collect it

We collect enquiry data solely to respond to your professional research request. The lawful basis for processing this data under UK GDPR is legitimate interests — specifically, to assess and respond to potential commissioned research engagements. We do not use your enquiry data for marketing, profiling or any purpose beyond responding to your enquiry.

Aggregate website analytics data (Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity) is collected only on the basis of your prior, active consent, which you may withdraw at any time (see Cookies, below).

How we store and protect it

Enquiry data is transmitted via encrypted connection (HTTPS) and delivered to a secure email inbox at enquiries@theblackarchiveresearch.com. Email is handled via Brevo (Sendinblue), a GDPR-compliant transactional email provider. We do not store your enquiry data in a database beyond what is retained in email correspondence. Where analytics cookies are consented to, that data is processed by Google (Analytics 4) and Microsoft (Clarity), under each provider’s own data protection terms. We do not share your data with third parties except as required by law.

How long we keep it

If your enquiry does not result in a commissioned engagement, your data will be deleted from our correspondence within 12 months of your initial contact. If a research engagement proceeds, relevant correspondence will be retained for the duration of the project and for up to 6 years thereafter in accordance with standard UK business record-keeping practice.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Object to processing of your data
• Request restriction of processing
• Withdraw consent for analytics cookies at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at enquiries@theblackarchiveresearch.com. We will respond within 30 days. If you are unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Cookies

This website uses essential technical cookies set by WordPress to maintain basic site functionality. These do not require consent.

Non-essential analytics cookies — Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity — are managed through a cookie-consent tool. When you first visit this site, you are shown a choice to Accept All, Reject All, or Customise your preferences. Neither Google Analytics nor Microsoft Clarity loads, sets cookies, or begins collecting any data until you have actively chosen to accept analytics cookies. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time by clearing your browser’s cookies for this site, or by contacting us at the address below.

For further detail, see Google’s Privacy Policy and Microsoft’s Privacy Statement.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of this site constitutes acceptance of this policy in respect of the enquiry-data handling described above; it does not constitute consent to analytics cookies, which is governed solely by your response to the cookie-consent banner.

Contact for data enquiries:
The Black Archive Research
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
enquiries@theblackarchiveresearch.com