The Snapshot | House History Research Service
Looking to research the history of your home?
The Snapshot house history by Oak & Willow Cottages is a carefully researched history of your home – using key historical records to reveal a snapshot of your home’s history, presented as an A4 Wall Art print, ready to display or as a personalised gift.
The perfect introduction to your home’s history. You can explore further depth through our Heritage Summary or Full Story service options.
£215 | Presented as an A4 Wall Art print on premium Giclée paper + digital archive
Current lead time: 4-6 weeks
Key Features:
- Key dates and development of the property
- Either a deep dive into a particular period of your property’s past, or a light-touch summary of several past residents, depending on what the records allow
- Light local and social historic context
- A thoughtfully written narrative presented as a beautiful A4 print
Perfect as a gift or as a summary of your own home’s history.
“From the moment I placed the order, the service has been phenomenal”
Emma N, Sunderland
Further Details
The Snapshot House History
Your home’s history thoroughly researched, and presented as an A4 Wall Art.
£215 (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 of former residents and insights into their lives – from occupations to short family stories
- Details from census records, revealing how the house was lived in
- When the property first appeared on historical maps, and early clues about its ownership, occupancy, or development
- Key moments in the home’s past, including ownership changes and shifts in how it was used
Ideal as a gift, housewarming present, or for key insights into the history of your home.
Written summary of your home’s history based on available records, presented as an A4 Wall Art printed on fine-art Giclee natural cotton white paper.
A digital archive including a digital copy of your Wall Art, and a 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 service would be more suitable, we’ll let you know and you’ll have the option to change your order. In the unlikely event that not enough records survive for your property to complete a Snapshot House History, you’ll receive a full refund (minus the cost of the Feasibility Check £30).
Choose from several available patterns to be incorporated into the design of your A4 print, ensuring the final product fits with your home and personal style.
You can 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
This service draws on digital research across core record collections. Scope includes census returns, old maps, newspaper articles, land tax surveys and valuations, and birth/marriage/death indexes.
Focuses on a short summary of your home’s story. Not as in-depth as the Heritage Summary or Full Story service.
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, 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 snapshot house history take?
The current lead time for the Snapshot is 4-6 weeks. Weeks 1-2 are spent completing your Feasibility Check. Completing the research can then take up to 3 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 Snapshot is the perfect 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.
What areas do you cover?
We currently offer house history research services for properties across England, Scotland & Wales
