Uncover The History Of Your House

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You know your home has a past, so don't let it be a mystery. Find out how to research it.

By Sarah Warwick

Finding out about the history of your home is a great project. Focus on the local area, your own building, and the people who have lived there.

Talk To The Locals

Asking your neighbours is a great way to start your research. Older members of the community may have lived there for a lifetime, and can tell you plenty about the local area, previous inhabitants of your home, and changes in the local scenery.

Visit A Museum

Local museums are a fabulous resource of information, photographs, and local enthusiasts who can tell you more about the area, and possibly your own street or home.

Look At The Title Deeds

You may be able to find out who owned and lived in your home from the title deeds. If your deeds don't show this far back, they could be in local records offices (see below). In Scotland, go to the National Archives of Scotland.

Research The Local Archives

The ARCHON Directory will allow you to track down sources of historical information such as electoral registers, title deeds and estate papers located in your area.

Take a look, too, at Access to Archives and the National Register of Archives to discover more sources of information.