Decide what you want to find out. Do you want to find out when your house was built or who lived there before you? It can be difficult to find an exact date for when a house was built.
How to get started
- Start with what you know and work backwards – road names and house numbers can change several times and it can be difficult to make sure you have the right building if you jump back too far
- Is your house listed? – Historic England records a brief overview of the date of construction and main features of every listed building in England
- Check your title deeds if you have them
- Ask neighbours who have lived in the area for many years for information
- Look at your house, sometimes there is a date on the building – if not is there another house nearby of a similar style with a date
- Take a photo of your house – this makes describing it to others much easier
Resources available at Enfield Local Studies
Resources which could help in dating your house*
- Maps, including enclosure, Ordnance Survey
- Directories
- Books
- Electoral registers
- Building plans
- Auction catalogues
- Photos
- Local newspapers
Resources for identifying past residents*
- Electoral registers
- Census
- Directories
- Wills
- Rate books
Useful websites
* Not all resources will be available for every house.