House History Research

There are many different ways to research the history of a property, and the most useful sources often depend on factors such as the building’s age and location. In practice, house history research usually involves a combination of online investigation and consultation of physical records held in libraries and archives.

For clients seeking a more comprehensive deep dive, in-person archive research can be included as part of a Bespoke Research Commission. If you would like to discuss this option, please use the Contact form to get in touch and tell us more about your project.

House history research is the process of uncovering the story of a property over time. It brings together evidence from historical records, maps, and documents to trace how a house was built, who lived there, and how it changed as the years passed.

Rather than relying on a single source, house history research draws from many different record types, including census returns, parish registers, historic maps, directories, newspapers, land records and more. These sources are carefully pieced together to build an accurate and meaningful narrative.

At its best, house history research goes beyond dates and names. It places a house within its architectural, social, and local historical context, revealing how wider events and everyday lives shaped the building you see today.

The history of a house is built from several overlapping elements, each contributing to a fuller understanding of how the property came to be and how it has been lived in over time.

Architectural history
This looks at when and how the house was built, including its original layout, materials, design features, and any later alterations or extensions. Architectural details often reveal how the building functioned at different points in its life and how it evolved to meet changing needs.

Local and historical context
Wider historical events, such as industrial change, war, or agricultural shifts, often left a direct mark on individual homes. Understanding the local area’s development helps explain why a house looks and functions the way it does today.

Surviving documents and physical evidence
Maps, deeds, inventories, photographs, and even wear within the building itself provide tangible links to the past, offering clues that written records alone may not reveal.

Oak & Willow ready-to-buy house history packages typically focus on occupancy, social history, and local historical context, as these elements are often the most revealing and meaningful for homeowners. They also include selected insights from architectural, land, and documentary evidence where available online records allow.

For those seeking a fully comprehensive exploration of a property’s history, including insights into its architectural history, land ownership research, and in-person archive work, this can be undertaken as part of a Bespoke Research Commission.

In most cases, no. The focus of my house history research is on written records and storytelling. Historic photographs of individual homes are rarely available online – especially for smaller homes, rural properties, or houses that haven’t been widely documented. Occasionally old photographs are discovered during the research process, and in this instance – the source will be included in your digital archive.

If you are specifically looking for historic photographs of your house, please contact me with the address of the property and I’ll see if I can help!

Oak & Willow’s ready-to-buy house history packages are based on detailed online research using publicly available historical records. These typically include census returns, historic maps, trade and street directories, and newspaper archives, alongside any other sources that reference your property or its former occupants.

Depending on what survives, this may also include records such as sales particulars, estate and land management records, military and railway records, ecclesiastical sources, tithe surveys, and other relevant historical material.

In almost all cases, there is enough historical information available on a property to pull together at least a Snapshot House History. However, there is never any guarantee that records have survived. In the event that you have purchased a House History package, and there is not enough surviving information available to fulfil the order, you will receive a full refund (less the cost of a pre-research check £30).

The amount of information available varies depending on factors such as the age of the property, its location, and how well it was documented at the time. Some houses have a rich paper trail, while others offer more limited surviving records.

Even where details are sparse, there is usually enough material to create either a Snapshot or Heritage Summary house history. Both packages include a beautifully designed Wall Art print (A4 or A3) with a compelling narrative — particularly for homes built before the 1920s.

Every house history we produce is unique, and the emphasis of each story is shaped by what the research reveals. Some narratives focus more heavily on the history of the land and its development, others centre on former occupants and their lives, and in some cases the story may follow one family in greater depth if their history is especially significant.

Yes. House history makes a meaningful gift for birthdays, anniversaries, housewarmings, or for any occasion for anyone who loves history (or loves their home). If you’re not sure which option to choose, the Snapshot or Heritage Summary House History package, both of which come with a Wall Art printed & optionally framed, are a popular choice.

Each of our packages includes both research and a finished physical product. The Snapshot package has the research presented as an A4 Wall Print with a concise narrative, The Heritage Summary package has the research presented as an A3 Wall Print with a more detailed narrative, and the Full Story package is the most comprehensive, with the research presented as an A5 booklet, with the option to also add-on an A3 Wall Print as well. All research packages also come with a digital archive which includes copies of some of the key records uncovered in researching your home’s history.

You can find more information on our presentation options here.

The right house history package depends on what you’re most curious about — whether that’s gaining a general sense of your home’s past, exploring former occupants in more detail, or commissioning a deeper, more comprehensive piece of research.

To help you decide, you can compare the features of our house history packages or complete a short quiz for a recommendation on which package might be best for you.

There are often several clues that can help establish the approximate age of a house. Architectural style and original features provide some of the most immediate evidence, while historic maps, photographs, land registry records, sales particulars, and other documentary sources can help narrow this down further.

If you’re unsure when your property was built, we can help. Our Pre-Research Check is the best place to start, offering an initial assessment to identify the likely age of your home and the most promising sources for further research.

Yes. Absolutely! Homes built as early as the 1600s (or earlier) often have a rich and detailed history. However, surviving records from before the 19th and 20th century are sparse, and often harder to link directly to your home. In these cases, the focus may shift more towards parish entries, estate documents, and local history for context, rather than confirmed details about specific residents. Even so, We’ll always bring together what survives to create as full and engaging a narrative as possible.

Once you purchase a house history package, you’ll be taken to an onboarding form. The form asks you a few questions about your property. Once that is complete, you will hear from us directly (via email) with further information on estimated timelines to complete the research and delivery of the project. You will be kept up to date as the research progresses and at every step of the way.