How do I trace the history of a property ?

[BADGER.BRAD]

Hello all,

I have just put an offer in on a property in Shropshire, ( built 1885) but I'm wondering how I could research it's history, has anyone any idea ?

Thanks all.

 

[onomatopoeia]

You might be lucky once you've bought it and all the "deeds" will still exist rather than just the computerised record, which would give you a good start. My previous home wasn't on the Land Registry database so I had this big pile of papers going back to just after WWI when the land was partitioned off from the house next door and sold as an orchard, then further transfers up the late 1960s where the house was built.

It was fascinating going through them and matching up to people's recollections, like my ex's mother told us about the Arab family with a Rolls Royce that owned it in the 1970s, then disappeared with no-one knowing what happened - they were shown as buyers in one document, then the next sale was a building society repossession a few years later, so that explained that.

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

Thanks for replying Mark,I'm moving from Dudley to Highley in Shropshire and the property is right on the edge of the countryside and was connected to the coal mines in the area. I'm hoping this one goes through as one way or another two have collapsed in the past. As it's quite old in comparison to where I live at the moment I though it would be interesting to find out about it's history.

 

[Box Brownie]

I have found this to be a good resource where for £3 & £3 you can get a truncated Land Registry Record & the location/rough boundary 'map' for the property if(?) it is registered.

Property Search - Land Registry

 

[Box Brownie]

You might possibly find some useful info on one or more of the Shropshire Interactive Map e.g. flood risk or mining associated risks

Public Gallery (arcgis.com)

PS best of luck with the house purchase etc

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

As it's quite old in comparison to where I live at the moment I though it would be interesting to find out about it's history.

Our house dates back to somewhere in the 17th century. Just the 20th century fills a boxfile!

 

[andya700]

Thanks for replying Mark,I'm moving from Dudley to Highley in Shropshire and the property is right on the edge of the countryside and was connected to the coal mines in the area. I'm hoping this one goes through as one way or another two have collapsed in the past. As it's quite old in comparison to where I live at the moment I though it would be interesting to find out about it's history.

Have you tried a basic Google search, because we can get interesting information on the older properties in our village doing that.

 

[lindsay]

Looking at the census returns is interesting, using the address to search (in your case) the 1891, 1901, 1911 censuses to see who was living there, what they did etc.