NEW IN JULY!

Property, People and Place: A Guide to House History Research

Discover the story behind your home with this new online course, designed to guide you through the records and resources needed to research the history of a house and the people who lived there. Written by our expert Tutors Lucy Browne, Sarah Pettyfer and Lorraine Whale.

The course is ideal for anyone with some experience of family history research, including the use of civil registration records, census returns and parish registers. It focuses on records for England and Wales.

Students may enrol at any time, and there is no fixed timetable, allowing you to study at your own pace.

What You Will Learn

Getting Started - The Foundations

Learn how to lay the foundations of your research and find a place to begin. You will explore records relating to the house itself, its surroundings and the wider community, and learn how to build a timeline that brings together the facts, events and stories you uncover.

Location, Location, Location – Using Maps

Maps are invaluable tools for house historians, but the variety available can be overwhelming. This module introduces a range of mapping resources, from modern tools such as Google Earth and Google Maps to historic maps that reveal how a place has changed over time.

Into the Recent Past - Sources for the 19th and 20th Centuries

Discover how to connect the records of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to trace the occupants, ownership and development of a property.

Paper Trails - Title Deeds and Court Records

Title deeds and court records form the legal backbone of property history. This module explores how these records document ownership, transfer, disputes and rights connected with a property, helping you build a clearer picture of its past.

Follow the Money - Tax and Probate

Tax records and probate documents can reveal far more than ownership alone. From medieval lay subsidies to later property taxes, these sources provide insights into the wealth, status and circumstances of past residents. Wills and inventories often contain detailed descriptions of property, possessions and family relationships, offering a vivid connection to those who once lived in the house.

Lords, Lands and Tenants - Manorial and Estate Records

Explore the rich evidence found in manorial and estate records, which can shed light on landholding, tenancy, inheritance and the relationship between landowners and local communities.

Assessment

This is a non-assessed course. However, students may submit a house history report for feedback from our Tutors.

Enrolment and Course Fee

• Introductory offer: 20% off £360

• Usual fee: £450

Students may enrol at any time, there is no fixed timetable.

Timescale

There is no set timetable for progressing through the course, so you may complete the modules at your own pace. We recommend that students aim to finish the course within six to twelve months.

The standard enrolment period is one year (see our Terms and Conditions). Course materials remain accessible throughout this period. Extensions may be requested before the end of the enrolment period; if granted, an additional fee may apply.

By enroling on the course you agree to our Terms and Conditions

Read Our Terms & Conditions

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