 Many of us have a deep interest in history. We are captivated by the past, and the growing trend of exploring our family's genealogy is evidence of this. Old houses serve as a living exhibit of history, they are the backdrop against which our forebears lived their lives. I've been exploring the history of my first home for over 40 years, and ever since, I have been captivated by the tales each one holds. I am curious about who constructed my house, the modifications it has undergone, and, of course, the stories that might have unfolded within its walls. It's fascinating to think that not that long ago, well before the NHS, hospitals and social care our ancestors gave birth, raised their families, and very often passed away in the home. It's possible that the house history you want to research isn't your own; it could be your ancestors' or a place you've visited many times, sparking your curiosity. You could be a tenant. Regardless, this article will guide you on how to uncover the history of any home or building Every home, regardless of its age, has a style whether that be Victorian or Georgian, thatch or tiles, timber or brick. The era and location where a home is situated influence its design, dimensions, architectural style, function, composition, and overall appearance and atmosphere. The most intriguing aspect of a home's history is discovering the people who called it home and the potential dramas that may have unfolded within its walls. It's a reminder of the long-standing presence of our ancestors, from their births to their passing. TracemyHouse.com provides a complete guide to everything you could want to know about tracing the history of your home. This is a small guide to help you get started in tracing your house history We start with the question - what do you know about your house?  The obvious place to start is with your house deeds. If you have them then you are in luck and at the very worst (if they are intact) they will tell you something about the history of your house and the people that lived in it. If you do not have your deeds it may be that your mortgage provider or solicitor has them. Get in touch if you can and ask if you can have a copy. House deeds and conveyances typically include a legal description of the property and the names of the current and previous owners. They may also list any liens, easements, or restrictions on the property. You can apply to the Land Registry for a copy of the registration records of the house you are researching. These will exist only if it has been sold or transferred since compulsory registration was introduced: 1899 in London, 1979 in Scotland, 1990 in England and Wales, 2003 in Northern Ireland. If the house is registered, you will receive details of sales, boundary plans, owners, mortgages and other historical information. For more information go to - Land Registry for England & Wales Land Registry for Scotland, Land Registry for Ireland. Some historical deeds can be found in archives so it is worth asking the local record office or local studies library. Read more about using the Land Registry here Talk to your neighbours to see if someone has already researched their house or the area. See if they know more about the history of the street or village. Download our checklist and advice for talking to neighbours If it is not your house, then depending upon where it is, you may have to travel to find out more. Most county councils, unitary authorities and some large town councils have a record office or a local studies library. If you have to travel it’s a good idea to see what information your council has available online or by telephoning them or looking at their website. Write down everything you know about your house right now. Take down details of dates, and occupiers if you have the original deeds. Keep notes and copies of the records you find. Build up a picture – timeline- of your house history. Even the most insignificant piece of research should be jotted down because it might come in useful later as more information is uncovered. For more details and further links go to Tracemyhouse.com Neighbours – tracemyhouse.com To research the history and development of a house, the various maps and plans can provide invaluable information. Maps also are useful because when house names or numbers change the position on a map remains constant. Use maps to work back and make sure you note important buildings such as local churches, schools, pubs etc because they tend to remain in place when streets change. If you can step back in time with maps it should be possible to note when your house first appears on a map. What you might find
For more details and further links go to Maps-tracemyhouse.com
Old photographs are invaluable in understanding the changes and history of a building. They can reveal architectural modifications, provide context about the surrounding area, and offer insights into the lives of previous occupants Historic England Archive has a wonderful collection of historic photographs, drawings, and documents related to buildings and landscapes in England. Local Record Offices often hold extensive collections of photographs, maps, and documents related to the local area. These may include images of buildings, street scenes, and significant events. Listed Buildings and Images of England Project is an online photographic library that aims to capture and preserve images of listed buildings across England.. For more details and further links go to Photos-tracemyhouse.com For more about where to find Record Offices and what they hold go to Guide to Record Offices Using newspapers for house history research can provide valuable context and detailed insights into the history of a property and its occupants. Newspapers often contain advertisements, articles, and notices that can help piece together the story of a house over time. What you might find National Archives: Holds extensive collections of historical newspapers.
British Newspaper Archive: Offers access to millions of pages of digitised historical newspapers from across the UK For more details and further links go to Newspapers-tracemyhouse.com
Researching the history of a house through wills and probate records can be a fascinating way to uncover information about its past owners and their lives. What you might find
Wills before 1858 are usually found at local record offices or in the Prerogative Court registers, which can be viewed at the National Archives. Wills of a later date are held at the Principal Probate Registry. For more details and further links go to Probate-tracemyhouse.com
Manorial and estate records are invaluable sources for researching the history of a house, as they can provide detailed information about property ownership, tenancy, and the management of estates. Manorial records are documents related to the administration of a manor, the basic unit of land tenure in feudal England. These records can date back to the medieval period and continue up to the early 20th century. What you might find
County Record Offices: Most manorial records are held in local county record offices or archives. The National Archives (TNA): Some manorial records are housed at The National Archives in Kew, London. Manorial Documents Register (MDR): An online database managed by TNA that helps locate manorial records. For more details and further links go to Manorial-tracemyhouse.com
Estate records pertain to the administration and management of large landed estates, typically owned by aristocratic families. These records can provide detailed insights into the buildings, tenants, and land use on the estate. What you might find
County Record Offices: Many estate records are held in local archives. The National Archives: Some estate collections are housed at TNA. Private Collections: Some estate records remain in private hands, often retained by the families that owned the estates. Access may be granted upon request. For more details and further links go to Estaterecords-tracemyhouse.com
This was also known as the Lloyd George Domesday Survey and was introduced in 1910, and valued all property in preparation for a new land tax. The survey of England and Wales was completed by 1915. The tax was never implemented, and the Act was repealed in 1920 but it provides a useful snapshot of life around 1910. What you might find There are three sets of records:
Some records survive and are held in the National Archives although these are being digitised and indexed by The Genealogist. For more details and further links go to Inland Revenue-tracemyhouse.com  The Electoral Register is a valuable resource for tracing the history of a property and its occupants. These registers were compiled annually starting in 1832. We suggest you start with the most recent electoral register and work backward to see who lived there. By noting the names and comparing them across different years, you can identify patterns such as long-term occupancy or frequent changes. This information can be supplemented with census records to provide additional context, such as occupations and family relationships. What you might find
Local Record Offices and Studies Libraries, The National Archives Online Databases - several genealogical websites, such as Ancestry, Findmypast, and others, have digitised versions of electoral registers. These can be searched by name, address, or other criteria. An increasing number of electoral registers and poll books are available on commercial websites such as Ancestry.co.uk (charges apply) and Findmypast.co.uk (charges apply) The electoral registers from 2002 onwards are available online at 192.com (£) The National Archives have collected a list of historical versions of the electoral register that you can search online. For more details and further links go to Electoral registers-tracemyhouse.com.
Census records in the UK have been an essential tool for house and genealogical research. They have been conducted every 10 years since 1801, although the early censuses in 1801, 1811, and 1821 only recorded the number of people rather than individual names. However, records from 1841 to 1921 provide a rich source of historical data including What you might find
Many online platforms provide searchable databases of these records, often with transcriptions and images of the original documents. Some of the prominent platforms include Ancestry, Findmypast, and FamilySearch. They are also available at local record offices and some libraries. For more details and further links go to Census-tracemyhouse.com  3 Year old Laurence Olivier famous actor and Knight lived in Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill, London according to the 1911 Census. His father Gerard was a vicar and born not far away in Merstham but his mother Agnes was born in Blackheath, Kent. Rhoda the governess was a native of Norfolk. This census tells us that the house had 12 rooms including the kitchen. The 1911 census tells you how many rooms the house has. The 1939 Register was compiled on 29 September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II. It was used to issue identity cards, ration books, and later, to manage conscription and the National Health Service. What you might find
Where to find Online Databases The 1939 Register is available online through subscription-based services such as Ancestry.co.uk and Findmypast.co.uk. You can access these at home or through libraries that offer free access to these databases. National Archives Visit the National Archives in Kew, London, which holds the original register. Some local archives or family history centres might also have access. For more details and further links go to 1939Register-tracemyhouse.com
Using telephone books to research house history is particularly useful for tracing past residents and understanding the historical context of a property. What you might find
Visit local libraries, historical societies, or municipal archives. They often have collections of old telephone directories. Some websites and digital archives offer scanned copies of historical For more details and further links go to Telephonebooks-tracemyhouse.com
Birth, marriage, and death records are valuable tools for researching the occupants who lived in your house. Since 1837 when civil registration started there have been records of all births, marriages and deaths before that the records were maintained in parish registers held now in record offices or the original parish churches. What you might find
Online Databases: Websites like Ancestry.com, Findmypast.co.uk, FamilySearch.org, and others provide access to extensive collections of birth, marriage, and death records. Local Archives and Libraries: Local government offices, archives, and libraries often hold these records. Civil Registration Offices: In many countries, civil registration offices maintain birth, marriage, and death records. For more details and further links go to BMD-tracemyhouse.com
Sale catalogues are a valuable resource for researching the history of a house. They provide detailed descriptions of properties at the time they were offered for sale, often including architectural details, land measurements, and even contents. What you might find
Local Archives and Record Offices, Special Collections in Libraries, The National Archives, Online Databases and Digital Archives and local historical societies often collect sale catalogues, especially for historically significant properties in the area.  This is an extract of a sales catalogue for a new estate to be built in Catford, London between 1890 and 1910. This shows the layouts for the various house types and costs nto buy or rent. The developer was a Scotsman so most of the street names are named after Scotish places. He was also a teetotaler and would not allow any pubs or off licenses to be built on the estate. Making this part of the capital one of the driest in all London. Trade directories can be a valuable resource when researching the history of a house in the UK. These directories, which were published from the late 18th century onwards, What to find
Where to Find Ancestry.co.uk: Historical Directories: Hosted by the University of Leicester, provides free access to a selection of historical directories. The National Archives: Lists sources and may have digital or physical copies. British Library: Holds a comprehensive collection of trade directories. For more details and further links go to Directories-tracemyhouse.com
 This has been a quick run through some of the records that will help you discover more about your house and its occupiers. There are many more that could help.
We haven't covered insurance or tax, tithe maps and apportionments, enclosure maps and awards or The National Farm Survey. Make sure you keep a careful note of all the records you have researched - where you have seen them and what relevance they had to your project. Write it all up and share with others. We are always pleased to hear from historians who have written their house history and there are lots of fellow house detectives on social media particularly X (Twitter), Facebook and Threads. If you can send a copy of your work to the local history archives. Examples of houses we have researched can be found here More about writing up your house history can be found on our website here. Get inspiration and visit a House Museum near you or take a look at the homes of famous people. Or if you want to get right down to it we have some lovely homes you can virtually visit here Above all enjoy the journey. Being a house detective can be thrilling, frustrating but always totally absorbing and fun. Visit TracemyHouse.com to discover much more.
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Trace my HouseOccasional blog with hints and tips to help you trace the history of your house and its occupants.and a general review of the world of house historians Archives
June 2024
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