House & Property History

How did I start out in house and property history?

My interest in property history began when I lived in an Edwardian semi-detached house in Buckinghamshire. It had kept many of its historical features, such as cornices and fireplaces, and I wondered about the people who had lived there before me.

It was when I was working on my MA, and researching the farms near Haslingden where my ancestors had been owners or tenants, that my interest in old houses really grew. Two of the farms in particular had been mentioned in records from hundreds of years ago, and it felt like there was some real investigations to be carried out to discover more about them, and the other families that had lived in them over time.

How can I help you?

Many of the records used for family history research can be utilised to investigate houses. These include land tax returns, manorial records, estate plans, tithe records, and more. With a one hour complementary session, I can take an initial look at any research you have already carried out, identify potential records that may be helpful, and formulate a plan for the journey back in time for your home.