Suggested reading on building history

We recommend you read the following books on how to trace the history of your house and find out when it was built and who lived there.

Click on the title to find out which libraries hold the book and reserve a copy online. You can ask for it to be delivered to your local library.

'Discovering your old house' by David Iredale (2002, 4th edition)
A good and clearly written guide to the many different sources for tracing house history.

'Tracing the history of your house' by Nick Barratt (2006, 2nd edition)
Highly recommended for help with how to start tracing the history of your house, including basic documents and other sources of information. Mostly based on the National Archives collection.

'Tracing the history of your house' by Peter Bushell (1989)
How to research into the history of the house itself and also its former inhabitants.

'How old is your house?' by Pamela Cunnington (1999, revised edition)
Uses architectural styles and details inside and outside buildings, to date them and trace their history.

'Documenting the history of houses' by N W Alcock (2003)
Valuable information about the many types of records available in libraries, record offices and the National Archives.

'How to trace the history of your house' by DC Williams (1971)
A guide to types of records available at East Sussex Record Office.

'Be your own house detective' David Austin, Mac Dowdy and Judith Miller (1997)
Based mainly on styles of architecture and fittings for period houses.

'Tracing the history of houses' by B Breckon (2000, 2nd edition)
Guide to dating everyday English houses from Roman times to the present day, based on regional and historical architectural styles.