House History Tool – Online Research Guide
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2. Maps
This should be the initial stage of your house history research. It is advisable to have a hard copy of a current map to hand, either from an A-Z map or a printout from websites such as www.streetmap.co.uk.
Old Maps
Websites that carry old Ordnance Survey maps should allow you to gain at least one old map of your local area. You should print these maps out so that you can clearly see your street/house location and the surrounding area.
The purple frame within the map is the area that has been found from the details you have entered. You can either zoom into the map or select ‘enlarged view’ which will open up a new window with an enlarged and detailed version of your map. You can also choose to look at a current aerial photo of the area and a current map. This will help you identify the location of your house on the old map you have found.
Once you have found relevant old maps make a note of historical landmarks, pubs, churches, road names, farms, train-lines, woodlands and estates. If your house does not appear on the old maps that you are viewing, make a note of the date, local landmarks and previous land use; these details can prove to be fascinating when investigating the history of your home. This method can also be used to date your property.
It is useful to directly compare several maps from different time periods – by examining the changes to the land over time you can build an interesting picture of the development of your local area. If you are printing from the internet, don’t forget to note down the date of the map and where it came from, as you may need to reference it again later.
HINT: A good idea if you do not know the date of your house is to try and search as many old maps from different dates as possible, until you find one in which your house appears.
HINT: If you can, printing your old maps in as large a size as possible, such as A3 or even A2, can help you to read them clearly and identify landmarks.
HINT: Road names can sometimes suggest what was in your area or road previously e.g. Powder Mill Lane or Old Factory Road.
HINT: Please be aware that your road name might have been changed. This will be relevant to your later searches of the census.
