researchingpropertylineage2 homefamily genealogy Virgin Media
With one in five Britons currently researching the history of their property, house history is the latest property craze.
As well as potentially being fascinating, there are sound financial reasons - if you can prove your house had a famous former occupant, it can increase its value by up to ten percent. But how do you go about researching the history of your house?
1. Talk to the neighbours - especially those who have lived in the area for a while. Investigate any rumours about former well-known or celebrity residents who may have lived in your property. The key information you will need to know is their name and approximately when they lived at the property.
2. Research the name - many famous people change their names early on in their careers, so if a possible link is discovered, do some research and find out whether the name you know them by is their real name before you start searching historical records.
3. Search historical records - the date will determine the historical collection you will need to explore.
If you think it was in the second half of the 19th Century, start with the England and Wales Censuses. For late 19th to the late 20th Century, try the British phone books 1880 to 1984. All are available on www.ancestry.co.uk.
4. Keep an open mind - it's not only people that change their names, names of suburbs and streets may also change.
If you are sure you have the right information but it is not adding up, visit the Land Registry Office to confirm if your street's name has ever been changed. This information is available on www.landreg.gov.uk.
Researching the history of your property has never been easier, so why not give it a go?
