Local Studies and Archive Centre

Sources for House History

South front of The Mount, a house occupying a site overlooking Bexleyheath golf course, in what is now fairway

Points to bear in mind when starting your house history

You may need to search in many different documents and maps.
It may be easier to find out about the various owners and occupiers than about the building structure or exact construction date. To find out when it was built you may need to work backwards and identify when a house disappears from maps or other records

Sources you can use might include:

Ordnance Survey maps for the 1860s-to date
Tithe maps. These were produced for most parishes in c1840 and each plot of land is numbered. The corresponding tithe awards identify the owner and occupier and give a brief description of each plot.
Tithe Awards - These are also available between 1837 and 1843 and in many cases surname indexes have been compiled.
Valuation Records - These are closely related to records such tithe awards and were usually initiated by a new piece of legislation was drawn up by Central Government. We have a major valuation survey of the whole area now covered by the Borough for 1910 and more, less comprehensive valuation records for the 1920s (for limited areas only).
Census returns
Trade directories
Electoral registers
Rate Books - We hold rate books from as early as 1726 through to 1955 but these are not consecutive and do not cover all areas. The rate books are arranged by address and give the name of the occupier, owner, a description of the property and the estimated size of the property together with the amount of actual rate paid.
Local council plans - These are held at the Centre dating from about 1890 up until the 1940s, mainly covering Bexley and Erith. These provide valuable information including plans of the property, council inspectors' reports on building work and correspondence between parties.
Enclosure Awards - Date from the beginning of the nineteenth century relating to the enclosure of common land may also be useful. The main award for the area was for Bexley in 1819 but we also have an un-indexed award for Erith in 1815
Deed Collection. These are collections of documents (usually held by a solicitor until a mortgage is paid off) relating to transactions concerning a particular property. They can include plans of the property and documents relating to each purchaser of the building in other cases in may be complicated legal documents relating to conveyance etc.

If you are researching a public building, such as a pub, church, vicarage, rectory, chapel or school there may be other sources you can use. Please ask staff for details.

For other records relating to a particular place or building search the Bexley Archives' Online Catalogues. If you require detailed research, please use our Research Service or visit the Archives Centre in person.