How to research your house: where to find historical material and how to use it. Elizabeth Wildgoose shares her experiences in tracing the history of her house in Bennett Street, Buxton. It is important when embarking on any research project to have a plan of what you would like to find out, together with how and where you hope to obtain the information. If you don’t work from a plan then your research will be never-ending and you will be endlessly side-tracked onto other interesting but less relevant topics! Believe me, I know this from experience! Starting Out Before you can plan your work however, you will need to get a better idea of the subject you want to study. You will need to familiarise yourself with the local area by looking at difference styles of architecture. A shopping area will look different because shop fronts are usually (but not always) conversions. However, look at the floors above the shop and you will probably see something quite different. Read local history books, visit the museum, talk to neighbours and previous owners and perhaps estate agents or solicitors who were involved with past sales of your property. When you have a clearer idea of the history of the area you can start to ask questions. Write them down and then decide where you might be able to obtain information to give you the answers. At this point you may only have a very limited idea about what you are looking for but as facts become clearer, the pieces of historical evidence will begin to fit together. Neighbours – Write them a letter. When I embarked on this project I decided to copy a letter to all the residents of Bennett Street and spent a very soggy afternoon posting letters through their letterboxes (it always rains in Buxton and it is a very long street!) I asked them if they had possession of their house deeds or if they could tell me anything interesting about the street’s history. Although feedback was limited (I was told that many of the residents were quite new to Bennett Street) the information I did receive gave me enough material to begin a construction of an interesting, if sometimes, patchy history. Neighbours – Talk to them. Following up an offer of a chat about the street I spoke to my next-door neighbour who had lived there all his life. He told me that our terrace had been built in 1895. However when I consulted my house deeds the terrace was actually built in 1899, plans being approved in December 1898. Therefore it always important to double-check oral information if at all possible. Learning about local history is always exciting when it is ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’ but sometimes memories can be a little hazy. I hasten to add that he was not born in those early years; he was actually referring to what he had thought he had read in his title deeds held by his solicitor. Getting in contact with my new neighbours was a great way to make friends and it was also a useful starting point for my research project. House Deeds. Some of my neighbours were able to lend me their house deeds (also known as title deeds). My deeds gave me information about the original owner’s family for example, his marriage details, where his children were born and what other property he owned. Unfortunately the Land Registry is now abandoning the use of traditional deeds and they are being replaced with three pages of basic information. House owners who have changed their mortgage payments will now be given their deeds either by the Land Registry or by their solicitors. And previous owners who paid off their mortgage may already be in possession of the only full set of deeds to your house. This may mean tracking these people down if they have taken the deeds with them to their next home. It is to be hoped that with all the current government computerisation projects that traditional title deeds will be digitised by the Land Registry so that house research will still be possible in the future. Wills. This is another way of finding out if someone owned a property. Wills can be found in the Litchfield Record Office up to 1857 (the diocese to which Derbyshire belonged in the past), the Derbyshire Record Office (for wills between 1858 and 1928) and the Nottinghamshire District Probate Registry (1928 onwards). A selection may also be found in the Public Record Office in London. Some wills are also printed in local newspapers. However, if you are lucky you may find a basic transcript of a will within your house deeds. Local Resource Centres The next stage is to visit your local studies centre; usually located in the public library. However some places such as Derby and Matlock have their local studies centre separate from the public library. Buxton Library was able to provide me with general advice on what information would be useful and where to obtain it. Local history publications may also provide pointers with appropriate references to historical sources and where they are located. (Contact Buxton Library at Kents Bank Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9HW. Tel: 01298 25331 Fax: 01298 73744) Next stop was the Derbyshire (County) Record Office at Matlock. It is vitally important to ring them to check that the information you require is actually held in their archives and you will also need to book a seat and/or microfilm reader. Many documents are only available in the public domain on microfilm. This is due to the poor condition of many original documents which are now stored away from overuse by enthusiastic researchers. Remember to take some form of identification on your first trip so that you can be issued with a reader’s ticket for all your future visits. And another important point (if you’ll pardon the pun) is that when visiting any centre holding old documents - pens are not allowed. Pencils only!! Maps Looking at early maps and land surveys is an easy way of beginning your research. They are simple to interpret and you can put your street into an historical context even if you find it was only a strip of land in the 1850s. Early tithe maps show land ownership details and by looking at later maps and surveys it can provide a way of estimating the time that the area was being developed. I found that the ordnance survey map of 1879 showed the first block of 12 cottages which had just been constructed, down one side, at the top of Bennett Street. Unfortunately there is a large gap until the next ordnance survey map was printed in 1897, by this time all the houses had been built apart from the bottom 2 terraces which I knew had been built in 1899. (Some of these Ordnance Surveys have now been reprinted, including the 1897 edition, the Godfrey Edition, available at all good bookshops and some record offices.) Local maps and surveys can be found either at your local library in the local studies section or the Derbyshire Record Office. Some can also be found at the Public Record Office in London. Map lists are available to consult but if you are unsure how to use the system or need further advice ask the archivist or librarian for assistance, I found that they were extremely helpful. I should add that other types of maps are available but for the purpose of this project I was only interested in construction information after 1870. Starting from the one piece of evidence I knew – the first houses were built on Bennett Street in approximately 1877. Local Government Records Another source of information are local government documents. The minutes of the Buxton Local Board Streets Committee give details, for example, of builders and their projects working on the expansion of Victorian Buxton. It is a fascinating source of information and offers a window into the frenetic building activity that characterised Buxton in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Click here for examples of what evidence came to light. Electoral Registers Property ownership information was the next stage of the research and the Derbyshire Record Office provides microfiche copies of early electoral registers that have been produced annually since 1832 (apart from interruptions during both world wars). For house research purposes they show the names of people owning property who could vote in local and/or county elections. The nearest list I could locate to 1877 was the 1879/80 register. However the list of names was in alphabetical order which meant reading through the entire Buxton/Fairfield/Burbage list to find references to Bennett Street properties. The other problem of locating specific ownership is that the idea of house numbers was not properly developed until the end of the nineteenth century. Some houses were allocated numbers but most were not, thus making it an impossible task to link owners with specific houses. Another problem is that house numbers and street names may change over time. In Buxton, Dale Street became Dale Road and quite recently Bennet Street acquired an extra T. Private Archives As Buxton was once part of a country estate it is possible to locate some land ownership details in private archives. The Chatsworth Archives on the Devonshire Estate allows very limited access to records but it is essential to contact the archivist beforehand. There is a daily reading fee. Unfortunately I did not have the time to visit and I am sure I have missed a fascinating opportunity to see a collection of rare and interesting documents on local history. Additional information can also be obtained by using the private resources of local people. I was very lucky to be able to use some of the data collected by one of Buxton’s local historians which shed light on previous owners of houses on Bennett Street. I believe that these details originally came from the records of a local retired solicitor. Census Returns Population assessments have taken place since Roman times in order to provide information for government statistics. A regular population census has been taking place every 10 years since 1801, however the 1841 Census is the first record that gives any form of detailed information about households and by 1901 the number of questions built into each return had grown considerably. The census was always taken on a Sunday evening when most householders would be at home. However census returns are not always accurate. The completed forms would contain spelling mistakes, illegible handwriting, people deliberately or accidentally excluded from a household, and even, total confusion by those completing the form. It was often a difficult job for the enumerator to transcribe the information onto the official government forms (the version we see when we are studying them); so be aware of this when evaluating your historical information. For an interesting and entertaining insight into what happened on the night of the 1901 Census in Chesterfield, Derbyshire click on www.wirksworth.org.uk/a20-1901.htm to see the problems that local enumerators experienced as they tried to collect information from local residents. Census returns, however, do give an amazing insight into everyday lives and provide an invaluable source of information for anyone with an interest in history. In general, it is possible to find out the name, age, status and occupation of everyone living in Buxton, Fairfield and Burbage. It is best to check all areas as the boundaries were subject to change in the nineteenth century. However the census is divided by street which makes it easier to find someone if you know where they live. If you are not undertaking house research and are studying your family tree, looking for a surname with no other information may be a little tiring on the eyes as most of the returns are only available in microfilm form at the present time. The census returns are stored in government archives until they are 100 years old and then they are published by the Public Record Office so that everyone can see them. The next census to be published will be the 1911 Census in 2012. The PRO is the custodian of most historic government documents. Census on Microfilm Apart from 1901 there is a complete microfilmed set of Census returns for England and Wales held in the Family Records Centre in London. The 1901 Census returns are available for viewing at the Public Record Office (also in London). However local census returns can be found in many local studies centres and frequently in County Record Offices. In Derbyshire they are available for the whole county at the Local Studies Centres in Matlock and Derby. It is advisable to ring before you visit any centre to check on availability and to book the microfilm reader. For example, Buxton library only has one machine and it is invariably being used. Census in Digital Format The 1881 Census is now available to purchase on a set of CD ROMs. Some local history groups have transcribed extracts and put the information on their websites, there is usually a fee to allow access to their records. Let us hope that all the census returns will ultimately be digitised to allow for electronic searching facilities. On January 2nd the 1901 returns were placed on the Public Record Office website (with free access to the index but a charge to view specific pages). Almost immediately the site collapsed due to 30 million people trying to gain access to the information! The PRO is currently trying to resolve this problem so unfortunately, for the time being, we are back to microfilm and eye strain! For updates on when the site should become available again see their website on www.pro.gov.uk. Trade and Town Directories These were primarily produced for commercial purposes, so that local people could advertise their businesses (Kelly’s Trade Directories are the best). However there are usually some very interesting sections on the history and economy of the town together with lists of residents ‘who owned their own house’. Owning a property was not so common as it is today. In the more detailed Town and Street Directories it is also possible to obtain a list of streets, with residents, which is very helpful when compiling a study on the history of a street or house. Sometimes the information is not completely reliable as names may be excluded if individuals did not wish to advertise their services. However for the purpose of house research they are invaluable, especially for information beyond the 1901 Census return. Despite some limitations, directories remain an excellent source of information. Directories can be located at your local studies centre and the Derbyshire Record Office. However your local studies centre probably has the best selection for your particular area. Newspapers If house deeds are unavailable information can sometimes be found about properties for sale, rent or lease in local newspapers. Newspapers also cover amongst other things, local and national events, births, marriages, deaths and wills. On August 14th 1915 the High Peak News printed the will of the original owner of my house (81 Bennett Street, Buxton) which showed that he also owned 5 Dale Road. I also found a court report about a real "neighbour from Hell!" In Buxton’s heyday the Buxton Advertiser published lists of lodging-houses available for the visitor during the ‘season’ (end of March to October). Lists were also published of the visitors themselves and it is interesting to see how far they travelled to ‘take the Buxton waters’. Early local newspapers can be viewed in microfilm form at your local studies centre. Building Plans If your house is situated in a town and was built or altered in the late nineteenth century (or later) it is possible that a building plan may survive and was submitted by the builder or architect to the local authority for approval under local bye-laws. Any plans of this type are usually deposited at the County Record Office and some can be found in the Public Record Office. However in Buxton’s case, the Devonshire Estate acted as the local authority and so many building plans are retained in the Chatsworth Archives. Sale Catalogues Another source of information are handbills and auction posters advertising the sale of properties. A selection is available at the Derbyshire Record Office, the Local Studies Libraries at Matlock, Chesterfield and Derby and there may be some available at your local studies centre. Local History Groups and Local Education Classes You should be able to find out if there are any local history groups in your area by asking at your local library, museum or adult education centre. The Internet This can be a useful source of information if you find websites on local history, however make sure that the information is written by a reputable person or organisation. If you are not sure, ask someone for advice (parents, teacher or local librarian). One website that provides useful information on how to research local history is http://www.local-history.co.uk A fascinating example of a local digitisation project can be found on http://www.wirksworth.org.uk One-Place-Studies research all surnames and local history within a given area. If you are interested in finding out more click on http://www.wirksworth.org.uk/a43-ops.htm For more detailed information on house research (with emphasis on national archives and libraries) click on www.arts-scheme.co.uk/studenthome.html www.house-detectives.co.uk A great website for teachers and primary school children is www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/schemes/history. Click on boxes 11 & 12 for units on Victorian life. Family History Surgeries and Training Sessions Individual Family History sessions can be booked with archivists at the Derbyshire Record Office. They also arrange short courses to learn about different resources held there. Ring for details. Primary and Secondary Sources. When researching documents it is important to know the difference between primary and secondary sources. A primary source is an original document produced by people contemporary to the period being studied. In theory this should also include microfilmed copies or CD ROMs (known as ‘surrogates’) as the information is still in its original format. However this is open to interpretation. A secondary source is information taken from primary sources and rewritten. Sometimes there is a danger in using secondary sources because an historical event could be rewritten from a different perspective, thus encouraging historical data to be re-interpreted or manipulated to suit personal interests. Whatever source you are using try to remember that most information was written with a type of reader in mind so try to be objective when you are assessing the information. And remember that your information may not be completely accurate so it is always advisable, if possible, to check another source for clarification. Have fun and remember that many of these local resources are available to use completely free of charge!