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So you want to trace the history of your house?
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It is unlikely that someone has already written a history of your house, so you are going to have to do quite a lot of detective work - it is not simply a case of looking in an index and finding all the documents about your house; but all the research can be very rewarding! It is best to start by noting easily available facts: are your deeds available and if so, what do they tell you; is there any information from previous owners, or the neighbours; does the house appear to have been altered or extended at different periods? A date on the building might indicate when it was built - but be cautious, the date would need to be verified in at least one other source to check its authenticity. Informal advice from a local architect might be useful. |
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Some houses in the County are registered at the Lytham District Land Registry which may have a summary of your house's history -
Lancashire Land Registry,
Wrea Brook Court,
Lytham Road,
Warton,
Preston,
PR4 1TE.
Tel: 01772 836700.
If you live in a very old house or a listed building, there may be information already written about your house and it may save you some work if you locate any existing sources at the outset of your search. Consult the Library's online catalogue and any relevant indexes in the Record Office and libraries for books, pamphlets, house sale catalogues etc. about your house, such as:
- Victoria History of Lancashire
- Pevsner's Buildings of England series for South Lancashire and North Lancashire
- Published lists of 'listed buildings'. English Heritage identifies and protects 'listed' buildings; local lists are available in the Lancashire Record Office, local council offices and many main libraries. They are also available on the Images of England website.
- Further help may be obtained from the organisations listed under Special Buildings.
Books on aspects of architecture give information about how styles in vernacular architecture have changed over the centuries, and also give clues about types of materials used and the styles of windows, doors and doorways, roofs, stone and brick work, chimneys, fireplaces and wallpaper. Please check the Library website for the online catalogue
Some of the more important sources of information are available in -
the main libraries in the County or
in the Lancashire Record Office or
the Museum Service.
Start your search by exploring various avenues of information available via these sources.