EVERY HOME HAS A STORY TO TELL OF  HUMAN ENDEAVOUR, LOVE AND TRAGEDY. A HOME IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN WHICH FAMILIES GROW AND CHILDREN FLOURISH. IT IS IMPORTANT TO COLLECT THOSE MEMORIES FROM THE PAST.

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​Even the most humble home has a history and here we help you find out how to go about discovering it's story.

If you are new to the experience of tracing the history of your house  then go straight to GETTING STARTED If you already know something about your house history you may find the GUIDES below helpful in showing you what records are available. If you want to find out what others have discovered or to visit a house  then INSPIRATION is for you.
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We even show you how to INTERVIEW NEIGHBOURS and where you can find the RECORD OFFICES and ARCHIVISTS Then when you have discovered the history of your house how to KEEP RECORDS  and  WRITE THE STORY.Throughout the site there are lots of links to  experts and other house historians if you get stuck.

If you are interested in discovering more  about your AMERICAN HOUSE we have a whole section just for you which is being added to regularly. If you are interested in tracing your ANCESTORS HOUSE go to that section for more ideas

Click on the Guide below for more details and then click on the subject icon to find out more about how the records can help you trace your house history.

Guide to The census

The CENSUS is taken every ten years since 1841 and is a key document for any house historian.Generally they are only available to view after 100 years. So from 1841-1911 they are available.

guide to The Land Registry

If the house is registered at the Land Registry  you will find details of sales, boundary plans, owners, mortgages and other historical information To find out more about this and Title Deeds read below.

guide to Directories

Trade and Street Directories can be found in libraries and record offices and in some cases online. These will give you the names of occupiers, and sometimes their occupations 
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guide to Maps

Old MAPS are a very important and a vital tool for tracing your house. When all else fails and the name or number is changed, or in some cases the address alters the position on a map will remain constant

guide to Valuation survey

The Valuation Office survey, was a property tax  aimed at raising funds, for the Inland Revenue and  was created following  the 1910 Finance Act .

guide to probate & wills

The information found in Wills and Probate Inventories and Accounts can sometimes provide important information about houses and their fixtures and fittings and how people lived. ​

guide to manorial records

These records  consist of  ‘court rolls, surveys,maps, terriers, documents & books  relating to the boundaries, franchises, wastes, customs or courts of a manor.
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guide to taxation

There is a plethora of tax records but some of them are easier to find than others. Most taxes in the early days were gathered by the Crown on their properties. Then the Government levied taxes  to raise money for specific causes that arose from time to time. ​​Several taxes can be helpful in finding out more about your old  house or its inhabitants.

guide to Other records

Lots of other records may be able to help you trace a house history or it's occupants. Building  plans, insurance records, local and country histories are just some of the items that you can find .

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Beginner’s Guide to Tracing Your House’s History from Jen in the US. A great blog with lots of interesting hints and tips about her personal journey into house history 

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We are experiencing some problems with this site but we are setting about improving and updating so keep coming back

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 Home     Getting Started   Land Reg & Title Deeds     Directories     Census     Maps     Tax     Probate & Wills     Manorial Records   
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Ancestors Home   Talking to neighbours      Interesting Houses   Homes of Famous People    House Stories   House Museums   Writing it up 

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