Top Twelve Websites for House History

Choosing the best web sites for house history research is quite difficult because most of the well known sites are designed for those tracing family history. Whilst house and family history are not too dissimilar, the one important difference is that house historians only trace people for as long as they are occupying the house – moving on when they leave, to the next owner or tenant. 
So ,these "top"sites have been chosen with the house and its occupants in mind. 
 
The second issue is that there are several subscription sites – Ancestry, Findmypast and The Genealogist that have mostly the same data – that is ,until you look at the records that are most suitable for house historians. So you might be surprised to see The Genealogist preferred to Ancestry in my list. ​

1. The Genealogist  ​

Of course it probably doesn’t need to be said, but you will never truly trace the history of your house on-line. Many key records have not been transcribed or digitised so you will have to visit the local or national archives. This however is a list of those websites that we feel will help you most. 
 
Although it has fewer records than its main competitors, The Genealogist is excellent for house and local historians. In particular it has an easy-to-use map and address search facility which is excellent for searching all the census and other records.

The Map Explorer is a powerful tool which uses geo-referenced historic maps and the facility to overlay several modern background maps, as well as providing a satellite view. 
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The site already includes all the previously released Lloyd George Domesday Survey maps linked to the field books and they are introducing a facility whereby you will be able to locate owners and occupiers from the tithe maps in The Genealogist's National Tithe Map collection.  
The Genealogist also has the Returns of the Owners of Land (1873–1876).
An excellent review and explanation containing tips for searching The Genealogist collection can be found at
Website ​

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​2. The British Newspaper Archive

Newspapers provide a commentary on the major occasions in our political, religious, sporting and cultural life, but are also a major source of information on everyday events. Newspapers contain advertisements, reports of social events, accidents, court proceedings and inquests.  Some mundane, others exciting glimpses into the daily lives of the occupiers of our houses.
 
You may discover advertisements for houses for sale or to let, sometimes naming tenants as well as owners and possibly detailed descriptions of the house itself and the contents. 
 
As well as searching newspapers for details of the house, you are also researching the lives of former occupants. Birth, marriage and death announcements, obituaries or probate notices can tell you so much about former occupants. 
 
The British Newspaper Archive, starts in the 18th Century with extensive coverage for the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Local and national titles are added regularly and provide more than forty million pages of fascinating information. This is a subscription site which is alternatively available to Find my Past subscribers as they are owned by the same company. 
 
To find out which newspapers have been digitised so far, click on this link ttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles

​Website 

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3. Find myPast
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Findmypast offers a search by address function on their census collection, which for house historians is invaluable and so gives it the edge over its main rival. Go to the Record Sets , then to the census specific search page and here you can choose search by person or search by address. 
On the subject of census of course, Findmypast also has exclusive coverage of the 1921 census for England and Wales.
 
We also like the fact that FmP has a large newspaper collection which is also available on its sister site British Newspaper Archive (see above) which will require a separate subscription. 
Finally, the site has a really good electoral register collection. 
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To discover what records FmP holds go to Record Sets from the drop-down menu.
Website
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​4. National Library of Scotland
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Maps are one of the most important resources for searching house history. That is because a map provides you with a visual record of where your house is located (or should be) and the area around it. When street numbers change your house will remain in the same place and maps and often landmarks or community buildings (schools, pubs, chapels etc) help you pinpoint your house. 

Also, when trying to determine the age of your house, maps can be of great value. Working back in time until the house no longer appears on a map should help pinpoint its construction date. 
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The maps are ordered by country, from largest scales (most detailed maps), to smaller scales (less detailed maps), followed by indexes and characteristic sheets (symbols and legends).
The best way to start and discover which maps might be online is to place a marker on your point of interest on the Map Finder and the results will be shown to the right of the map.  
​Website
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5. Historical Directories of England and Wales

is the greatest collection of trade and local directories for England and Wales, ranging from the 1760s to early 1910. There are 689 directories all searchable by name, place and occupation, making it an essential tool for local, urban and family history. 
 
The directories were originally digitised as part of the Historical Directories project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The original website can still be accessed via the UK Web Archive. 
The best way to discover which directories are available and those pertinent to your search is on the front page choose - “Find by Place,” Find by Location,” or “Find by Keyword”

​However, you may find it easier if you have an Ancestry sub to access the content in Ancestry UK, City and County Directories, 1766 - 1946. 
​Website

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6. Ancestry 
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Whilst FMP’s address search function gives it the edge for house historians, Ancestry only allows you to search for an address in the 1891 and 1911 census, but does allow you to search for a specific or any other occupant (mother, father, spouse, children, siblings) that may be living at the address. 
 
For the 1891 census write the place (e.g., Ipswich) in ‘lived in’ and the street name in ‘keyword’. If you find the street you will then have to “walk” up and down (using the arrows either side of the record) to find a specific address.
 
For the 1911 census go to the 1911 census homepage and then to the Summary Books page search which will allow you to input the specific address.
 
You can discover which records Ancestry holds, by going to the ‘Search’ menu and selecting ‘Card Catalogue’
​Website

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7.Free BMD
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Whilst not exactly a site designed to help further your house history, you will at some time certainly want to know more about the occupiers and Free BMD provides access to the Civil Registration index of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales for FREE. 
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The civil recording of births, marriages and deaths began in 1837 and the transcribing for this site is carried out by teams of dedicated volunteers.  It is work in progress and therefore it is best to check what has been transcribed by event by going to https://www.freebmd.org.uk/progress.shtml

​Once you have found your person in the index you will need to purchase a copy of the relevant certificate from the General Record Office or a local register office.
​​Website
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8. The  Land Reg
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​The title deeds to your house can provide so much information which could lead to you discovering clues to the age of your house, as well as the names of vendors and sellers and perhaps the owners of the land on which the house is built 
The deeds may be held by the solicitor, bank or building society involved in the sale and purchase of your house. Failing that you may be able to find out who owned the property or how old it is from a historical title register at the HM Land Registry.
Further information can be obtained from the Land Registry. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry

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9. British History Online 
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British History Online is a digital library containing a collection of nearly 1300 volumes of primary and secondary content relating to Britain, Ireland and the Empire. The library contains 40,000 images and 10,000 tiles of historic maps of the British Isles. It is partly free with ‘premium’ material available for a subscription 
 
To get started either throw yourself in and start searching or go to the catalogue -   https://www.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue

Websiite

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10. Historic England

​Historic England (like British History Online) will not be so much about your house – unless it’s listed in which case this is definitely the place for you - but it does map all listed buildings, plus it contains sections on war memorials and Historic England’s own archives.

It also has over 400,000 digitised photos taken from their aerial photo collections of over 6 million photographs preserved in the Historic England Archive. 

You can search for properties or subjects either by using the “Search the List” or “Explore the Map “on the front page.
​​ Website
 

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11. ​One Place Studies

It is always inspiring and often to find out about other people’s researches and although One Place Studies is about more than houses it’s a great resource and support. 

The “places” can be towns, parishes, villages, hamlets, streets, individual buildings, even burial grounds or memorials.
​The society encourages members to explore people and families in their physical and social contexts, using a range of sources, including historical records and community stories, analysed alongside the local and national background. 
​Websit

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12. House History Hour

Although this is the website to promote the #HouseHistoryHour Twitter “show” which takes place every Thursday at 7pm the site contains one significant and often over looked resource. 
 
Every week the team discuss a topic related to house history and have guest contributors. These topics range from a variety of house history subjects including famous houses, museums, architectural style, authors, websites, social and local history etc.- and the highlights of these hours have been stored under Twitter Moments.
​These can be accessed via the House History hour website/moments and provide a wonderful and unique library of topics

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More details of the issues discussed here and lots more can be found on our web site – Tracemyhouse.com
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