Local history society directory

Local history society directory

Find a local history organisation near you or to support your research project.

Local history resource directory

Local history resource directory

Explore our Resource Directory — a curated collection of archives, maps, publications, and specialist websites to support and inspire your local history research.

Become a member

Become a member

Join a national network of local historians and societies — with publications, support, increased visibility, and member benefits including discounts and dedicated insurance.

Quarterly publications

Quarterly publications

The Local Historian, our academic journal, was first produced in 1952 and is considered one of the foremost local history publications. It is published four times a year in conjunction with Local History News.

Our educational work

Our educational work

BALH aims to encourage interest and enthusiasm for local history amongst learners of all ages and to share and promote best practice, knowledge and skills.

Featured member society

Featured member society

BALH member societies may now add details of their work to our website, which will be highlighted here. Contact us for further details

Why BALH?

Nick Barratt Historian and Author

Where did your ancestors live?

It is impossible to trace the history of one’s family without considering where they lived. Local history societies and one-place study groups have researched and published content that will allow you to place the lives of your ancestors in the context of their local communities, villages, towns and cities as well as some of the key socio-economic factors that lay behind their development. They often use the same sources as family historians, and can help provide an alternative interpretation of a document or suggest new resources to help your research.

Nick Barratt, Historian and Author

Meet the team

Nigel Tringham Publishing Committee

Nigel Tringham

Nigel, a member of BALH since 1999, represents the Victoria County History, where he has worked on Staffordshire’s history since 1979. He joined the Publishing Committee, later becoming its chair in 2005. A medieval and local history lecturer at Keele University, he also leads the Latin and Palaeography Summer School. He edits the Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions and Staffordshire Record Society volumes while supporting the county Archive Service. His research includes medieval records of York Minster’s lesser clergy, with further volumes planned for retirement. He played a key role in BALH’s Living the Poor Life project.

Nigel Tringham, Publishing Committee

From our archives

The Amateur Historian Volume 2 Number 4 February March 1955

Tracing the history of your home

Stanley-Morgan, Robert

pp 106-110

Article which outlines the main sources for house history, a subject which later became a major area of interest to amateur historians. The subjects noted include interior design; inventories; correspondence; architectural details; building plans; other maps and plans; census returns; title deeds; manorial records; taxation records; and the resources of the British Library and British Museum (NB almost all the suggestions relate to larger and more substantial properties).

The Amateur Historian Volume 2 Number 4 February March 1955

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