Discover The History In Your House
by Filante -
That TV classic, Through the Keyhole, famously asked: Who lives in a house like this? But perhaps the more interesting question should be: Who lived in a house like this? Have you ever wondered why your house has a particular name, or what the original design of its interior tells you? Or imagined who, in past years, slept in your bedroom, cooked in your kitchen or even more spookily, died in those four walls?
Tracing the history of your home can shed light on your neighbourhood’s past, and become an intriguing detective hunt. And like all good detective stories, you will be led down some dark alleys and avenues but you could also find nuggets of information that shine a bright light on the past. One thing’s for sure, you will never look at your home in the same light ever again. And with a bit of luck, you will find a few skeletons in the closet!
Get researching
Just as working out your family tree, investigating your home’s history involves research – maps, plans and legal records all help create a social history of the times.
•Speak to the previous owners, neighbours, estate agents and gather information. Who knows what word of mouth stories have been passed down over the years? You never know, even a ghost story could be inspired by a long lost truth.
•Your local library is a wealth of information. Trawling through the archives of your local newspaper can add colour and stories to the history of a place and could lead to a fascinating insight.
•Community heritage groups or local historians in your area are also great sources to help get a clearer picture of the history of your local community.
•Approach your local or county record office for relevant material from your area.
There is a wealth of bodies and archives you can visit including the Family Records Centre and Public Record Office to help your search. Remember to ask for advice from the staff– they might be able to show you a shortcut. Check out the Public Record Office website first to look for helpful hints and advice.
If these four walls could speak
It isn’t all just sticking your nose in a book trailing through records and archives. The house itself is evidence you can examine. Often there are design clues and features that will help you date the property.
Previous occupiers
Check the census records, parish registers, even birth, marriage and death indexes at the Family Records Centre and Public Records Office to help find out who your previous occupiers were. Family history is a hot topic and increasingly popular hobby so there is a lot of advice and help out there when it comes to tracing genealogy.
If your house has a famous or historical significance there will be more records available.
House names
If your house has a name it could be a rich clue. Naming homes has its roots in the gentry who named their Halls, Castles, Manors and Lodges according to ancestry.
Even if you are not from landed gentry, house naming is a popular activity - our homes, after all, are our castles. A name can reveal the individualism of the original owners, what the original aspect or location looked like, or even if the property was an old coach house, court house, vicarage or rectory.
There’s so much more to a home than bricks and mortar!
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