Tracing the History of Your House The Building, the People, the Past

by Barratt, Nick

• ISBN13: 9781903365908
• ISBN10: 1903365902
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-02
• Publisher: The National Archives UK

Summary

The second expanded edition of the bestselling guide by TV's Nick Barratt.

Author Biography

Dr. Nick Barratt is a medieval, local and family historian who is increasingly involved in the media: his roles have included consultant to BBC's 'House Detectives' and project historian on the History Channel's 'Family History Project'. In autumn 2004 he appeared weekly on BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?', which attracted an average of four million viewers. Formerly an adviser to researchers at the Public Record Office, Nick is a well-known speaker on the family history circuit, and also writes widely for the genealogical press including Ancestors magazine.

Table of Contents

Preface
1 AN INTRODUCTION TO HOUSE HISTORY	15	(3)
1.1 House history	15	(1)
1.2 About this guide	16	(2)
2 GETTING STARTED	18	(25)
2.1 Introduction	18	(1)
2.2 First steps	18	(3)
BEGINNING LOCAL RESEARCH: TALKING TO PEOPLE	18	(2)
RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY	20	(1)
2.3 Architectural clues	21	(12)
REGIONAL BUILDING STYLES - VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE	22	(3)
NATIONAL BUILDING STYLES - POLITE ARCHITECTURE	25	(3)
USING ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES TO DATE YOUR HOUSE	28	(4)
AVOIDING COMMON PITFALLS	32	(1)
2.4 Research techniques	33	(4)
WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH	33	(2)
RESEARCH TIPS	35	(2)
2.5 Working in archives	37	(3)
GAINING ENTRY TO AN ARCHIVE	37	(1)
RULES AND REGULATIONS: PRESERVING THE DOCUMENTS	38	(1)
LANGUAGE AND OLD HANDWRITING	38	(1)
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	39	(1)
2.6 The National Archives	40	(3)
ARCHIVAL REFERENCES AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES	40	(1)
THE GUIDE, CATALOGUE AND FINDING AIDS	41	(2)
3 MAPS, PLANS AND LAND SURVEYS	43	(33)
3.1 Introduction	43	(1)
3.2 Ordnance Survey records	44	(2)
ABOUT THE RECORDS	44	(1)
COUNTY MAPS	45	(1)
BOUNDARY RECORDS	45	(1)
3.3 Valuation Office survey	46	(7)
ABOUT THE RECORDS	46	(1)
ACCESSING VALUATION SURVEY MAPS (EXCLUDING LONDON)	46	(4)
ACCESSING VALUATION SURVEY MAPS FOR LONDON	50	(1)
ACCESSING FIELD BOOKS	51	(2)
RELATED RECORDS	53	(1)
3.4 Tithe apportionments	53	(5)
ABOUT THE RECORDS	53	(2)
ACCESSING THE RECORDS	55	(1)
USING THE RECORDS	56	(1)
RELATED RECORDS	56	(2)
3.5 National Farm Survey	58	(5)
ABOUT THE RECORDS	58	(1)
ACCESSING THE RECORDS	59	(2)
RELATED RECORDS	61	(2)
3.6 The National Archives extracted maps and plans catalogue	63	(1)
3.7 Enclosure maps and awards	63	(4)
THE ENCLOSURE MOVEMENT	63	(1)
RECORDS OF ENCLOSURE AWARDS	64	(1)
ENCLOSURE BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT	64	(1)
USING ENCLOSURE AWARDS	65	(1)
RELATED RECORDS: APPORTIONMENT OF RENTCHARGE	66	(1)
3.8 Estate maps and plans	67	(1)
3.9 Deposited maps and plans for public schemes	67	(2)
RAILWAYS	67
ROADS	15	(54)
REHOUSING PLANS AFTER PUBLIC SCHEMES	69	(1)
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAPS	69	(1)
3.10 Military maps	69	(1)
3.11 Maps and plans in the Office of Works	70	(1)
3.12 Architectural drawings	70	(1)
3.13 Photograph catalogue	71	(1)
3.14 Other places to look for maps	71	(5)
Property profile: Black Ladies, Staffordshire	73	(3)
4 LAND LAW AND CONVEYANCING	76	(14)
4.1 Introduction	76	(1)
4.2 Landholding under the 'feudal' system	77	(1)
THE FEUDAL PYRAMID	77	(1)
THE MANOR	77	(1)
LAND TENURE	77	(1)
4.3 Freehold land	77	(5)
TYPES OF FREEHOLD TENURE	77	(2)
LEASES	79	(1)
TERMINOLOGY USED IN GRANTS OF FREEHOLD LAND	80	(1)
CHANGES TO LAND LAW UNDER THE 1925 LEGISLATION	81	(1)
4.4 Methods of transfer	82	(8)
FEOFFMENT	82	(1)
DEEDS OF LEASE	83	(1)
FINAL CONCORD OR FINE	83	(2)
COMMON RECOVERY	85	(1)
BARGAIN AND SALE	86	(2)
LEASE AND RELEASE	88	(1)
DISENTAILING ASSURANCE	88	(1)
STRICT SETTLEMENTS	88	(2)
5 TITLE DEEDS	90	(18)
5.1 Introduction	90	(1)
5.2 Title deeds	91	(2)
A DEFINITION OF TITLE DEEDS	91	(1)
WHERE TO LOOK FOR TITLE DEEDS	92	(1)
5.3 Deposited title deeds at the National Archives	93	(3)
PRIVATE TITLE DEEDS	93	(1)
TITLE DEEDS TO CROWN LANDS	94	(1)
DEPOSITED DEEDS AS EVIDENCE	94	(2)
5.4 Enrolment of deeds	96	(7)
LAND REGISTRY	96	(1)
LOCAL REGISTRIES	97	(1)
ENROLMENT OF DEEDS AND CONVEYANCES AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES	98	(5)
5.5 Searching for a sale or property transfer	103	(1)
5.6 Scotland and Ireland	103	(5)
Property profile: Cliff House, Northumberland	105	(3)
6 MANORIAL AND ESTATE RECORDS	108	(18)
6.1 Introduction	108	(2)
MANORIAL ADMINISTRATION	108	(1)
ESTATE RECORDS	109	(1)
SEARCHING FOR HOUSES IN MANORIAL RECORDS	109	(1)
6.2 Manorial tenants	110	(2)
FREEHOLD TENANCY	110	(1)
COPYHOLD TENANCY	110	(1)
LEASEHOLD TENANCY	111	(1)
RELATED FORMS OF TENANCY	112	(1)
6.3 Records of the manorial courts	112	(5)
MANORIAL COURTS	112	(1)
COURT ROLLS	112	(3)
RELATED RECORDS PRODUCED AT THE MANORIAL COURT	115	(1)
LOCATING THE RECORDS	116	(1)
ENFRANCHISEMENT OF COPYHOLD TENANTS	116	(1)
6.4 Related manorial records	117	(5)
MANORIAL SURVEYS	117	(4)
MANORIAL ACCOUNTS	121	(1)
PRIVATE ESTATE RECORDS	121	(1)
6.5 Records of the Crown estates	122	(2)
6.6 Records of semi-autonomous jurisdictions	124	(1)
6.7 Scotland and Ireland	124	(2)
7 RECORDS OF PROPERTY INHERITANCE	126	(14)
7.1 Introduction	126	(1)
7.2 Property transfers in wills and administrations	126	(3)
THE LEGALITY OF BEQUESTS IN WILLS	126	(1)
THE LACK OF A BEQUEST IN A WILL	127	(1)
PROBATE JURISDICTIONS BEFORE 1858	128	(1)
7.3 Searching for PCC wills and administrations	129	(5)
WILL REGISTERS BEFORE 1858	129	(1)
ADMINISTRATION BOOKS BEFORE 1858	130	(1)
ORIGINAL WILLS	130	(1)
RELATED PROBATE MATERIAL AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES	131	(1)
PROBATE MATERIAL AFTER 1858	132	(1)
SCOTLAND AND IRELAND	132	(2)
7.4 Death duty registers	134	(6)
Property profile: Fife House, Brighton	135	(5)
8 LEGAL DISPUTES	140	(22)
8.1 Introduction	140	(2)
PROPERTY AND THE LAW	140	(1)
THE ENGLISH LEGAL SYSTEM	140	(2)
8.2 Equity proceedings in Chancery	142	(5)
PROCEEDINGS	143	(1)
DEPOSITIONS AND AFFIDAVITS	144	(2)
DECREE AND ORDER BOOKS	146	(1)
ARBITRATION AND APPEALS	147	(1)
8.3 Equity cases in the Court of Exchequer	147	(3)
PROCEEDINGS	148	(1)
DEPOSITIONS AND AFFIDAVITS	149	(1)
DECREES AND ORDERS	149	(1)
8.4 Other equity-based courts	150	(3)
COURT OF REQUESTS	150	(1)
COURT OF STAR CHAMBER	151	(1)
COURT OF WARDS AND LIVERIES	152	(1)
8.5 Equity courts of semi-autonomous jurisdictions	153	(1)
8.6 Equity court exhibits	153	(3)
CHANCERY MASTERS EXHIBITS	153	(2)
EXCHEQUER EXHIBITS	155	(1)
EXHIBITS FOR SEMI-AUTONOMOUS JURISDICTIONS	155	(1)
8.7 Civil litigation in common law courts	156	(4)
COMMON LAW COURTS	156	(1)
PLEA ROLLS OF COMMON LAW COURTS	157	(1)
RECORDS OF JUDGMENT	157	(1)
SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE (KING'S/QUEEN'S BENCH)	158	(1)
CIVIL LITIGATION IN ASSIZE COURTS	158	(2)
8.8 Quarter sessions records	160	(2)
RECORDS OF PROSECUTION	161	(1)
RECORDS OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION	161	(1)
9 HOUSE OCCUPANCY	162	(11)
9.1 Introduction	162	(1)
9.2 Census returns	163	(4)
CENSUS RETURNS 1801-31	163	(1)
CENSUS RETURNS 1841-1901	163	(2)
LOCATING LATER CENSUS RECORDS IN ARCHIVES	165	(1)
CENSUS RECORDS ONLINE	166	(1)
RESEARCH TECHNIQUES	166	(1)
SCOTLAND AND IRELAND	167	(1)
9.3 Electoral lists and registers	167	(1)
9.4 Street and trade directories	168	(1)
9.5 Parish registers	169	(1)
9.6 Inquisitions post mortem	169	(2)
9.7 Assignments of dower	171	(1)
9.8 Diaries and personal correspondence	171	(2)
10 TAX AND RATES RECORDS	173	(13)
10.1 Introduction	173	(1)
10.2 Hearth Tax	174	(2)
HISTORY OF THE RECORDS	174	(1)
TYPES OF HEARTH TAX RETURNS	174	(1)
LOCATING THE RECORDS	175	(1)
10.3 Land Tax	176	(2)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND	176	(1)
LAND TAX RECORDS AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES	177	(1)
USING LAND TAX DATA	177	(1)
10.4 Other assessed taxes	178	(2)
WINDOW TAX	178	(1)
HOUSE TAX AND INHABITED HOUSE DUTY	179	(1)
THE 1695 MARRIAGE ASSESSMENT IN THE CITY OF LONDON	179	(1)
10.5 Rates	180	(7)
POOR, CHURCH AND HIGHWAY RATES	180	(1)
LOCAL AUTHORITY RATE BOOKS	180	(1)
SEWER RATE BOOKS	181	(1)
Property profile: Walcot Square, Southwark, London	182	(4)
11 RECORDS OF NATIONAL EVENTS	186	(16)
11.1 Introduction i	i86
11.2 The dissolution of the monasteries	187	(5)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND	187	(1)
DISPOSING OE THE MONASTIC ESTATES	188	(2)
MONASTIC BUILDINGS	190	(2)
11.3 The English Civil War	192	(4)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND	192	(1)
DISPOSAL OF CROWN LANDS	192	(3)
LANDS OF ROYALIST SUPPORTERS	195	(1)
THE RESTORATION	195	(1)
11.4 Trade and commerce	196	(1)
11.5 Railways and the Industrial Revolution	197	(2)
INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION 197 RAILWAYS	198	(1)
11.6 Twentieth-century warfare	199	(3)
REQUISITIONED PROPERTY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR	199	(1)
BOMB DAMAGE IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR	200	(1)
IRISH HOUSING AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR	201	(1)
12 SOURCES FOR 'MODERN' HOUSES	202	(10)
12.1 Introduction	202	(1)
12.2 Housing policy before the Second World War	203	(3)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: TACKLING NINETEENTH-CENTURY POVERTY	203	(1)
SLUM CLEARANCE, REDEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING SCHEMES	204	(2)
12.3 Post-war reconstruction and development	206	(4)
THE 1947 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT	206	(1)
NEW TOWNS	207	(1)
LOCAL AUTHORITY RENT CONTROL	208	(1)
BUILDING RESEARCH AND BYE-LAWS	209	(1)
12.4 Records maintained by local authorities	210	(1)
12.5 Records of utility companies	211	(1)
13 HOW WE USED TO LIVE	212	(9)
13.1 introduction	212	(2)
13.2 Rediscovering previous interiors	214	(2)
SEARCHING FOR CLUES	214	(1)
DESIGN REGISTERS AND REPRESENTATIONS	214	(1)
PATENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS	215	(1)
COPYRIGHT FILES	216	(1)
13.3 Inventories	216	(1)
PROBATE INVENTORIES	216	(1)
INVENTORIES IN OTHER SERIES	217	(1)
13.4 Sale catalogues and prospectuses	217	(1)
13.5 Correspondence and diaries	218	(1)
13.6 Fire insurance records	219	(2)
14 PREPARING A RESEARCH PLAN	221	(5)
14.1 First steps	221	(1)
14.2 Background research	222	(1)
14.3 Archival research: creating a document framework	223	(1)
14.4 Archival research: following up leads	224	(2)
15 CASE STUDY	226	(10)
15.1 First steps	226	(1)
15.2 Background research	226	(1)
15.3 Archival research: creating a document framework	227	(2)
15.4 Archival research: following up leads	229	(2)
15.5 Archival research: further investigations	231	(4)
15.6 Conclusion	235	(1)
The National Archives series containing title deeds	236	(4)
Glossary	240	(3)
List of abbreviations	243	(1)
Useful addresses	244	(3)
Useful websites	247	(1)
Useful publications	248	(7)
Index	255	(9)
Picture acknowledgements	264