Harrogate and Ripon libraries are hosting an exhibition which encourages people to discover the history of their past or present homes.
The House History exhibition was created by North Yorkshire Council’s county record office, which has resources dating back 700 years. It includes details of resources residents can use to investigate the history of their home.
The records can help to pinpoint changes in ownership, former occupants, how the land has been used and the history of the wider area.
The touring exhibition is currently on display at Harrogate Library until June 3. It will then be at Ripon Library from June 12 to 30.
Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s executive member for libraries, said:
“The exhibition proved very popular when it was on display in the record office at the end of last year, so we are delighted to be able to share it with library-goers.
“The touring exhibition includes a range of material from historic maps, architectural drawings and old photographs to historic property deeds and electoral registers.
“Every home has its own unique history so we hope you can use your own detective skills to embark on a fascinating and rewarding journey into your home’s history.”
The touring exhibition is not about exploring the history of a specific house but guiding people to learn about their own home. It can be a complex study and which of the record office’s resources will be relevant depends on the age and location of the house.
To delve into the history of your home, visitors can use the resources in the county record office search room at Northallerton. where they will have free access to online resources such as census records.
An online guide is available here.
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Harrogate district residents encouraged to delve into history of their homes
A new archive dating back nearly 700 years is being made available for residents in the district to research the history of their homes.
North Yorkshire’s county record office said the number of queries it receives about researching house history are second only to those about family history.
As a result, the office is staging an exhibition and online guide that will show people the resources available locally to help them dig into their properties’ past.
Items spanning nearly 700 years, from the early 1300s to the 1970s, will be on display, including historic maps, architectural drawings, old photographs and property deeds.
Some of the items relate to the construction of the Park Place flats on the Stray, and Knaresborough’s High Street and Fisher Gardens in Briggate.
Margaret Boustead, head of archives and record management, said:
“Everybody’s home is unique and each house will have its own story to tell.
“This exhibition is not about country houses or elite residences, it is about everyday homes and what people might be able to find out about them.”
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NYCC’s executive member responsible for the county record office, Cllr Greg White, said:
“Researching house history can tell us so much about the past and the places that we call home. It can also help us learn about the people who lived there and strengthen our connection with our past and where we live.
“Our county record office holds a wonderful range of resources that you can use to start your journey of discovery.”
The exhibition, at the county record office in Malpas Road, Northallerton, runs until Tuesday, January 31 – except between December 24 and January 2.
It is open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm. Admission is free and there is no need to book.
There will also be drop-in sessions on Monday, October 31, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm and Wednesday, November 9, from 4pm to 6pm, when archivists will be on hand to answer questions .
The online guide can be found at www.nycroblog.com/house-history.