Researching the History of a Property
This module provides guidance on sources to be used when researching the history of a property. It was developed in 2022 as the result of some collaborative work that Northumberland Archives undertook with the Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HHSHAZ) project. The project aims to revitalise ‘Hexham’s historic town centre into a more attractive, engaging, and vibrant place to live, work, invest and visit’. Funding for the module was provided by the project.
Content within the module focuses on the Northumberland market town of Hexham. The same sources exist for many Northumberland communities and the module can be used as a guidance by anyone researching a Northumbrian property.
For more information about the HHSHAZ project see Hexham High Street Heritage Action Zone | Historic England
Resources are available to download in Word and PDF format.
Documents
Starting Out
This unit provides guidance on tasks that it is helpful to undertake before commencing archival research.
Using Northumberland Archives
This unit provides guidance on tasks that it is helpful to undertake before commencing archival research.
Deeds
This unit explores how you might use deeds to support your property research and we provide some tips about reading and understanding deeds.
Maps and Plans
This unit explores how maps and plans can support your property research and includes links to some online resources.
Estate Records
This unit explores how estate records – records of landed families – can support your property research and includes examples of main classes of estate records.
Manorial Records
This unit explores how manorial records can support your property research providing examples of the main classes of manorial records.
Wills and Probate
This unit explores how probate records can support your property research by providing information about previous occupants and sometimes about the property itself.
Planning Records
This unit explores how Local Authority planning records can support your property research.
Residents
This unit explores various sources that can provide information about former residents of a property.
Other Sources
This unit explores some other sources that might assist anyone researching a Hexham property.
