House history

loulou41

Please does anybody know how I could find the history of the house I have just bought? It was built in 1901. I have tried the census but I need names etc. Just curious who lived there before.

PasturesNew

You could try asking neighbours. Strangely, I was in the hairdressers after I'd bought my house and my actual hairdresser did the usual polite "where do you live?" and it turned out she'd lived next door to mine some 20-30 years earlier and told me no end of weird stuff about the house and occupants.

Old people are usually good for this, they seem to remember all sorts of stuff.

I presume you have googled the address already.

keith969

You could look at the Land Registry copy of title document - should be in the HIP.

For example mine has some covenants and mentions the covenant between the original builders and the first purchaser, and gives their names.

Also look at any previous planning permission, it should have the names of the applicants.

23rdspiral

while the online census requires you to have the name of the person you are looking for, there is another way...

each county has a County Records Office, they are run by the council and keep all sorts of old documents and records. You can visit for free and search through the census in person - often you have to register for a CARN card (essentially like a library card, but doesnt allow lending) - so take some personal ID with you.

- they are written street by street. Sometimes you can view the original document, sometimes its a sort of mini-copy you view on a reader machine, sometimes they've typed it all up nicely and have it avalible on CD/computer to make it easier for you! Often they have an index to help you easily find the street you are looking for. Hopefully your house was occupied before the census was taken!

If you do not have the time, all offices have a search facility - usually about 7 to 10 pounds per hour (sorry pound key broken!). A photo copy of the census page may be free, but shouldnt cost much if not.

At the Office you can also check for any past wills (to see who the property was left to) or other personal documents based either upon the address or the occupants (found through census). You can also search parish records for births, deaths, marriages ect should you wish.

good luck and have fun, it can be quite addictive!

(I used to work for a county records office)