How to find the history of a house???

Leeds_House_Mover

We bought a house a couple of months ago. It was built in 1868 (we believe) and I'd like to do a bit of research into its history. Would love to know something about its first owners.

I've tried Ancestry.co.uk but you seem to need a name to search properly.

Has anyone done this? Is there a good resource?

Thanks in advance.

Browntoa

possibly local archive

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Local-and-family-history-service.aspx

dragonsoup

Local census records are a good place to start. The trick can be trying to identify which is your property especially if it is old enough not to fit into the numbering system. They'll give you the name and occupation of the residents at the census date.

I did our previous house with them ( 1802). I've just got the deeds to our latest purchase and am currently trying to work out when it was built. The oldest records I have found show it existing in 1865 but I think it may be a little older than that.

Old maps can also be useful - there are some available free online

D00gie72

The 1901 cencus may be a good place to start as there is an on-line searchable database. Go to 1901cencusonline.com then click on advance search you can then type in your address. You will need to buy credits to see the details of who lived there once you have found the correct property but I don't think they're too expensive. Older cencus records will be available at your local records office - you will need to search through micro fiche records but it is usually free to do so. Have fun!

pleasedelete

Do you have the deeds?

Chanes

As mentioned, the Deeds should state the first owner and details of the property, the rest should be easier once you done that. I traced the history of the land it was built on after I'd done the house.

RAS

Head down to the Family History section in Leeds Central Library.

You can access the census records for the address for 1871 to 1911.

And in the far corner there are a whole raft of Directories listing the residents of Yorkshire. Depending on the status of your occupiers they may have listings in the street indexes.

And for the later years there are copies of the old electoral rolls.

GaleSF63

It is possible to search for an address on Ancestry.

I have done it lots of times.

Unfortunately I can't be much help at the moment as I'm not at present a member, and I can't remember exactly how, but don't give up on it because it's there somewhere.

I think you go to the censuses in the lists, (not the form where you put a name in), then narrow it down to county, town etc. but after that you may need to try different wards to find the street.

bouicca21

Try your local studies library/local record office and ask for help. They will direct you to pamphlets/books on how to do house history and may even have their own leaflet geared to local sources. There are any number of published guides on the subject, so they are bound to have something. It might be worth starting off with something like the Victoria County History if there is a volume for your area.

You will need to invest some time and effort into concocting a research strategy, and would probably find it useful to get in touch with a local history group so you can tap into existing research.

Maps, not just ordnance survey but tithe and estate maps will be enormously helpful. I'd recommend asking about local records of the Valuation Office survey of c 1911 too. You might even find the original architectural plans and builder's records.

Census can be helpful but beware changes in street numbering - you don't want to find yourself researching the inhabitants of the wrong house. If you start to get really involved in the task you will also want to look at stuff like directories and rate books.

There is bound to be a vast range of stuff that might be worth looking at, don't let yourself get bewildered - take it slowly and chip away at it.