Several Ways to Discover the Story of Your Home

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Choose from multiple different research services…

Whether you’re uncovering the history of your own home, or looking for a truly original gift, our house histories offer more than a list of names and dates.

They are a window into the lives, moments, and milestones that shaped a home through history.

Compare the features of our Snapshot, Heritage Summary, Full Story, and House History Portfolio services below.

Research depth differs across each service.

The Snapshot House History

The Snapshot House History by Oak & Willow Cottages focuses on researching either a key period of time in your home’s history, or a light-touch summary across multiple generations, depending on what the records allow. Findings are pieced together to form an A4 wall print.

£215

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What Will Be Discovered
What’s discovered in every house history is completely unique, however our Snapshots typically focus on:
Identification of former residents
Insights into residents’ lives (overview) or a deeper dive into a specific period of time in your home’s history (depending on what surviving records allow)
Basic household structures & living arrangements
Property timeline & key moments

Pricing & Completion
£200 (or pay in 3)
Current research completion time: approximately 4-6 weeks

Best For
Homes built either pre or post-1920
Homeowners who want a snapshot insight into their home’s history
A thoughtful and totally unique gift for new homeowners or history enthusiasts

What You Will Receive
A written summary of your home’s history presented as an A4 Wall Print in a display-worthy design
A digital archive including copies of some of the key records uncovered in the research of your home

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The heritage summary House History

The Heritage Summary House History by Oak & Willow Cottages is a rich account of your home’s past, uncovering multiple residents and weaving in local context — presented as a beautiful A3 wall print.

The Heritage Summary includes research into record collections beyond the core, offering a broader view of your home’s story without the extended depth of the Full Story package.

£500

What Will Be Discovered
In addition to what’s included in the Snapshot, you might also uncover:
The origins of your home and how it developed over time, explored in greater detail through multiple historical sources
Former occupants brought to life through richer research – uncovering not just who they were, but insights into their lives, families, and circumstances
Household structures and living arrangements, revealing how the home was actually lived in across different periods
Key moments in the property’s story, explored in more depth and supported by additional records
Newspaper mentions, local records, or unexpected discoveries connected to the house or its residents
A deeper understanding of the local area and your home’s place within it, adding context to the lives of those who lived there

Pricing & Completion
£500 (or pay in 3)
Current research completion time: approximately 6-8 weeks

Best For
Homes built pre or post-1920s,
Owners who want detailed insight into their home’s hsitory
A thoughtful and fully personalised gift for period property owners or family researchers

What You Will Receive
A detailed written summary of your home’s history, presented as an A3 Wall Print in a display-worthy design
A digital archive including copies of key records uncovered in the research of your home

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the full story

The Full Story by Oak & Willow Cottages is a comprehensive deep dive into your home’s past, weaving together multiple records into a rich, detailed narrative — presented as an A5 printed casebound hardcover book (and an optional A3 Wall Art print).

Prices from £795+, depending on your chosen presentation

A book titled 'Riverdale: A House History' displayed on a white fabric surface with decorative elements.

A cozy bedroom featuring a wooden shelf with a framed wall print titled 'Riverdale House', telling the home's history, surrounded by potted plants and a vase of dried flowers. The bed is adorned with floral and textured bedding.

What Will Be Discovered
The Full Story provides the deepest exploration of your home’s history. This could include:
How the lives of former residents connect across generations, revealing patterns of occupancy, family links, and changing use of the home
How different households experienced the property over time, shaped by wider social and historical change
The evolution of the home in direct relation to the people who lived there and the periods they lived through
Historical and social context surrounding each household, showing how class, occupation, and circumstance influenced daily life
Links between people, place, the wider community and events, uncovering connections that would not be visible from individual records alone
Newspaper mentions, notable events, or unexpected discoveries connected to the house or its residents
A fully connected, narrative account that brings together people, place, and time into a cohesive story

Pricing & Completion
£795 -£950 depending on which edition you choose (or pay in 3)
Current research completion time: approximately 10-14 weeks

Best For
Pre-1920s homes with a long trail of surviving records
Owners who want a detailed account of their home’s history
A premium gift for history lovers, heritage property owners, or family historians

What You Will Receive
Extended written narrative of your home’s history, presented as an A5 printed casebound hardcover book containing the full written history, with the option to also add an A3 Wall Art print to your order
A digital archive with copies of key records uncovered in the research of your house history

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The House History PORTFOLIO

The House History Portfolio by Oak & Willow Cottages is a curated archive of your home’s past, bringing together selected historical records, folded map prints and explanatory research notes in a beautifully presented keepsake box.

£700

A navy blue portfolio with a ribbon and seal, featuring the text 'Beech Tree House - House History Portfolio' on a white card.

What Will Be Discovered
The House History Portfolio is designed to uncover and preserve the key records behind your home’s past. Depending on what survives, this could include:
Historic maps showing how the property, garden, surrounding land and wider area changed over time
Census records revealing former residents, household structures, occupations and family relationships
Directory entries or electoral rolls showing who lived in the property at different points in time
Newspaper mentions, local notices or unexpected references connected to the house, its residents or the surrounding community
Land, ownership, estate or valuation records that may reveal clues about the property’s use, boundaries or development
Evidence of how the home changed over time, including shifts in occupancy, land use, status or function
Explanatory notes to help you understand what’s included

Pricing & Completion
£700 (or pay in 3)
Current research completion time: approximately 8-10 weeks

Best For
Old homes with a strong trail of surviving records, maps and archive material
Owners who want to explore the original evidence behind their home’s history
A premium gift for history lovers, heritage property owners, or anyone who enjoys handling historical records

What You Will Receive
A curated physical portfolio of historical records connected to your home
Printed copies of records, including premium quality historic map prints
An A5 saddle-stitched explanatory notes booklet
Printed timeline of former occupants or key moments in the home’s history, where possible
An A4 premium keepsake box designed to hold and protect the records, maps and booklet together