Archival resources
Achives are a rich source of documentary evidence. As a result of the compulsory registration of land transfers, few owners now retain previous title deeds and other documents, but some areas - Middlesex in particular - have deeds registries going back to the eighteenth century.
Census returns, rate books, electoral registers and local directories - all of which offer information on those who lived in your house in the past - are held in county or local archives. Old photographs and illustrations in guidebooks may provide evidence of former uses and show how the property looked before alteration or extension.
If a house once formed part of the estate of a well-known local family or corporate body, their papers may be deposited in a public archive. Start with a search on the website www.a2a.org.uk.
Understanding a historic building and its setting is the key to successfully conserving it, and an integral part of good conservation practice.
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Many people live in historic houses – researching their history can be surprising and rewarding.
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