Spending much more time at home might have you wondering about the history of your house. When was it built? Who has lived there over the years? And how has it been altered? There’s no better time to discover what story your house has to tell.

Understanding the origins and development of your house can be extremely rewarding; not only is it of interest to you and your family, connecting you to the past, but it could add value or potential saleability. And it can help inform decisions should you wish to make alterations to your home, some of which may need approval from your local authority.

There is a fair amount of research you can undertake from your own home. Here are some tips to get you started:

Internet search

Though obvious, the internet is a really good place to start. Searching your house name or village can provide pointers on where to look next.
 

Check if your house is on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE)

Historic England compiles a list of buildings in England which are deemed of special architectural or historic interest. Any entry is a good starting point although you may find some details are brief, while others are not entirely accurate. It is possible to have the listing amended. Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw in Wales, and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland compile their own lists.

Look up historic maps

19th and 20th-century Ordnance Survey maps may show your property, providing evidence of when it was built and how it developed over time. Mid-19th-century tithe mapping includes an apportionment which lists the owner and occupier of the land or building which can help you build up a picture of past inhabitants.

Look up previous occupants

Further information on past inhabitants can be found in census returns (records taken every decade and mainly available for the period 1841-1911). Websites such as Ancestry.co.uk and The Genealogist.co.uk can help and they each offer limited free access if you want a taster. Documents such as property inheritance and transfer records may be available online, or at your local archives office (you can search their online catalogues while awaiting their reopening).

Search for photos

Old street photos or aerial photos may be available online. You could find your property and its surrounding have changed significantly over time. Some local history groups publish photographic archives online.

Check local websites

Local history groups, building research groups and parish councils may provide a wealth of information on your property, your village or community, which may inform the understanding of your home in the wider context. Your local library may have a local history section online where you can review other people’s research.

Read the architecture of your building

Look at your house. Are there possible areas of extension or alteration? Compare it with neighbouring houses or other examples in your locality: are there recurring themes, styles of use of materials? Is there a datestone or feature which helps date your building? Did previous occupants leave anything in the loft or under any floorboards? Have you dug up anything while landscaping the garden? These clues can help you build a picture of past inhabitants or the origins of your home.

Compiling a scrapbook of the results of your research can help you and future generations understand your home, making it a part of living history and enhancing your enjoyment of living there.

Further information

Contact Natalie Aldrich

Contact Savills Heritage Planning team