The Heritage Summary | House History Research Service
Trying to discover the history of your house?
The Heritage Summary package by Oak & Willow Cottages is a professionally researched, beautifully presented history of your home – uncovering the stories of who has lived there, what their lives were like, how it has evolved, and the stories behind it. This research commission includes research across a broad range of historical records to tell your home’s story, presented as a professionally printed A3 wall art, designed to display or gift.
£500 | Presented as an A3 Wall Art print on premium Giclée paper + digital archive
Current lead time: 6-8 weeks
Perfect for those looking to connect to the heritage of their home, or as a personalised gift
Key Features:
- Research drawing on a broad range of historic records to tell the story of your home and its history
- Multiple past residents or households uncovered and their lives in the home explored
- Clear historical context that places your home within its wider time period
- A beautiful written summary that weaves together people, place, and period
- Presented as a printed A3 wall art, designed to be displayed or gifted
“I cannot recommend Oak & Willow highly enough!”
Cara b, west sussex
rAILWAY COTTAGE
Further Details
The Heritage summary House History
A rich account of your home’s past, uncovering multiple residents and weaving in local context — presented as a beautiful A3 wall print.
£500 (or pay in three available at checkout) |
Every house history is unique, and the stories are led by discoveries in the records. Research may uncover:
- The names and lives of former owners / occupants over the decades – from farm labourers to shopkeepers, families and individuals who shaped your home’s story
- Insights into household structures and living arrangements, offering a glimpse into how life was organised within the home – from family dynamics to shared spaces and roles
- When the property first appeared on historical maps, and how it has changed over time
- Newspaper mentions that connect former residents to the wider community, or unexpected stories linked to the house
- Details from census records – occupations, family structures, and glimpses into everyday lives
- Information on how the house was used, extended, or adapted through different periods
Ideal as a completely unique and personal gift, housewarming present, or for connecting to and displaying the heritage of your home.
A narrative summary of your home’s history, drawn from surviving historical records.
Presented as an A3 Wall Art, printed on fine-art Giclée natural cotton white paper with a subtle textured finish (optionally framed)
A digital archive including a digital copy of some of the key records uncovered in the research
Price includes a Feasibility Check to confirm what records survive for your home. This takes 1-2 weeks to complete. If the records suggest a different package would be more suitable, we’ll let you know and you’ll have the option to change your order. In the event that not enough records survive for your property to complete your chosen package, you’ll have the option to reduce your package (we’ll refund the difference), or a full refund (minus the cost of the Feasibility Check £30).
Choose from several available patterns to be incorporated into the design of your A3 print, ensuring the final product fits with your home and personal style.
Choose the print-only option, or elevate your order with a sleek, black, oak, white, or antique style wooden & glass gallery frame, so that your house history arrives ready to display.
Research Scope
In-depth digital research, building beyond just an overview. This package draws on core historical records such as census returns, parish registers, historic maps, probate & will, crime & court, institutional records and more to identify past residents, key stories linked to the home, and changes over time.
Adds historical and social context to place the house within its local setting, and stories that bring the names and dates to life.
More depth than the Snapshot, without the long-form narrative of the Full Story
Customer Reviews
Add a Framed Historic Map Print
While your house history tells the story of the people, ownership, and events connected to the property, historical maps show a home in its historic landscape. Old maps can reveal roads, pathways, boundaries, neighbouring buildings, fields, gardens, and other details that help bring written histories to life. Add an A3 framed historical map print to your order for a beautiful companion to your house history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out the history of my house?
The most reliable way is to commission a professional research service. We draw on historical records including census returns, parish registers, historic maps, tithe records, and local archives to build a picture of your home’s past – uncovering the families who lived there and the events that shaped it.
What records are used to research a house history?
Research typically draws on census returns, historic Ordnance Survey maps, tithe apportionments, parish registers, trade directories, newspaper archives, and local authority records. Which records survive varies by property and location, which is why every commission begins with a Feasibility Check.
How long does a heritage summary take?
The current lead time for the Heritage Summary is 6-8 weeks. Weeks 1-2 are spent completing your Feasibility Check. Completing the research can then take up to 6 weeks, plus then compiling the records, writing, designing, printing, and shipping your final product.
Can I commission a house history as a gift?
Yes – the Heritage Summary is a popular house history gift idea for housewarmings, milestone birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas. You can choose to order the house history in advance, and gift the final product, or if you’re short on time, we can provide a gift certificate to share with your recipient confirming the commissioning of their house history and that something exciting is on its way.
