Uncovering the past in your part of the world
Discovering the secrets rooted in the history of your street or house is a fascinating part of local history research. Perhaps you want to find out who lived in your house when it was first built, discover the stories behind local street names, or find out more about local landmarks. A local history trail reveals all kinds of interesting facts and stories that build up a wonderful picture of past generations and changing communities.
It's so easy to get started
You can start to research your house or street easily - just by stepping out of your door in fact. By talking a walk, you'll be prompted to look at old churches, schools and shops that will help to focus your search, while a quick chat with neighbours might reveal other fascinating facts. Stop off at your local library and borrow books showing different architectural styles, or try a house dating tool (see local history websites, right) - this will give you an idea of the time that your house was built and is a good starting point for your research.
Who opened your front door?
Continue by searching census returns using your library's free access to history websites such as www.ancestry.co.uk - census returns go back as far as 1841 and, if your house is old enough, may list the names of the people who opened your front door more than a century ago.
Where to get more information
Libraries hold a lot of information about local areas - including maps, photographs, newspaper archives and building plans. You could also try your local records offi ce, archives centre, or museum. As well as printing guides on researching your local history, these places have records of war damage, street directories and recordings of local people talking about the past.
