About Mysteries in Time
Welcome to Mysteries in Time, where learning is an exciting adventure! My name is Samantha and along with Peter, we are the co-founders of this award-winning journey through time. We met at university in 1998 where I was studying languages with history and literature modules and Peter was studying law, and have been together ever since! We relocated from London to Belfast in 2019, where we live with our happy, inquisitive son and an ever-shedding dog.
Peter & Samantha
The inspiration behind Mysteries in Time
My personal love for historical fiction stemmed from my language degree! A large part of my degree involved delving into world-changing events in European history using different sources, including novels, short stories or plays that were written during times of change in history. I loved the way I could visualise a place in history from historical novels. I loved the way that stories bring the sights, smells and feelings of a time and place in history to life in the most vivid and creatively memorable way.
A few years later, after spending a year teaching English abroad, I realised my love for teaching and gained a PGCE to become a primary school teacher in East London, a job I absolutely loved. We didn’t know it at the time, but the building blocks were in place for our future venture!
Learning through Stories
In 2014, we made a life-changing decision to take a career-break to travel the world. Our aim was simple: to have an adventure! We travelled through some stunning and fascinating countries, with Bangladesh, Turkmenistan and the Philippines amongst some of our most memorable, where we met some incredible people with fascinating stories to share.
The further we travelled, the more we were captivated by the remarkable stories of people we met along the way. From survivers of wars that changed history, to personal experiences of how political instablity and change can have a profound effect on people’s everyday lives, we were drawn to people’s stories.
It was these conversations and personal stories that painted the most vivid pictures of the history of places we were visiting, while also creating the most lasting memories for us from our travels. Reflecting on these life stories, we agreed that the most effective way to learn history is through stories, as this is what really brings it to life.
Mysteries in Time was born!
And so, Mysteries in Time was born out of our shared love of history! For children especially, the journey of learning about history should be an engaging and immersive experience. Our platform is dedicated to bringing history to life through captivating stories that transport young minds to different eras, allowing them to connect with the people and events that have shaped our world.
Proudest Moments
We’re incredibly proud of our journey since launching Mysteries in Time. From our humble beginnings, we’ve now successfully shipped captivating historical adventures to happy customers in over 40 countries, sharing the joy of learning through stories with families worldwide.
Theo Paphitis, SBS Award
Just a few weeks after we launched the business in 2016, we were incredibly proud when renowned entrepreneur and former Dragon’s Den star, Theo Paphitis, recognised our contribution to educational innovation with an SBS Award.
Small Business Sunday, widely known as SBS, is a remarkable initiative founded by Theo Paphitis that provides a platform for small business owners to showcase their products and services. This exposure not only boosts the visibility of these businesses but also grants them access to invaluable networking opportunities and support from a community of fellow entrepreneurs.
His support for small businesses has been invaluable, and to be acknowledged by such an eminent figure so early in our business journey was a significant milestone for us.
Since launching Mysteries in Time, we’ve been honoured with numerous accolades that affirm the quality and impact of our work.
We are proud to have been recognised by the prestigious Made for Mums Awards, an organisation dedicated to rigorously testing and awarding the best in parent and child products.
Our innovative approach to learning also caught the attention of the Junior Design Awards, where our unique blend of history and storytelling earned us top honours.
Made for Mums & Junior Design Awards
The Great British Entrepreneur Award 2022 – Creative Entrepreneur of the Year
In 2022, we were extremely proud to have won the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year – Creative Entrepreneur Award.
We were over the moon to attend the glitzy awards ceremony in London as finalists, where we genuinely could not believe our ears to hear our names called out as winners in our category. It was a burst of pride and excitement in one single moment, and we are so proud to be recognised for the creative approach that underpins our approach to learning through stories.
This award underscores our commitment to creating engaging, high-quality educational content and highlights our innovative approach in making learning history through stories an exciting adventure for children.
These awards symbolise our commitment to excellence and our dedication to transforming the way children learn history.
The past has many stories to tell, and we invite you to join us as we uncover them. With Mysteries in Time, every activity-filled pack is an exciting exploration, and every young learner is an adventurer.
Samantha and Peter