First Steps
- Look at the property and guess an approximate date based on style.
- Examine the title deeds (if available) and the Land Registry entry
- Start tracing the past inhabitants
- Research Local Archives (either physically or, if available, via the internet) including
- Census records
- Ordnance survey maps
- Directories and electoral records
- Local histories and societies
- Picture archives
The next step is the move deeper by:
- Tracing descendants of inhabitants
- Looking at old maps and specialist regional maps
- Reading histories of the county.
- Evaluating specialist archives - charters, Domesday Book, fire insurance etc
And, you can go deeper still by:
- If deeds not available search in archives and private collections
- Look at additional records - parish, estate, newspapers, planning, court cases etc
- Have a detailed look at architectural detail
- Research the archaeology of the site
- Research the property name and the heraldry if these are relevant
