Ordnance Survey maps from the 1830s onwards are available for most areas. The 1 inch, 2.5 inches and 6 inches to the mile maps are the most useful. If you live in a town you may be able to get hold of the 25 inches to the mile version, published between 1855 and 1895. You will find that this map provides a wealth of detail right down to lampposts and trees. Copies are usually available from the county records office or main libraries.

Modern Ordnance Survey maps will give a clue to place names and physical features that affected the development of your local area. The Explorer series (1:25,000) is most useful.

The first census was in 1801 and a survey of households has been held every ten years since then. At the time of writing, census records are available up to 1891 (they have to be kept secret for 100 years). From 1851 census enumerators were required to record every occupant of every household with details of their age, occupation and place of birth. Copies of census records can be obtained from large libraries or record offices and provide invaluable information about employment and migration in the past.

Local trade directories were the Victorian equivalent of the classified telephone directory. Tradespeople and local worthies could pay a small sum to be included in the street directory, which was regularly updated. Most contained a list of the important people in a town or village, a list of shopkeepers, advertisements, information about the post service, and times of coaches and trains. Town directories often listed traders in a particular street. You can use these to track the way shopping has evolved in an area over time.

Local bookshops and libraries can often supply collections of old photographs relating to your area. Try taking your own up-to-date photograph of a site shown in one of these collections for the purpose of comparison.