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

Supporting your academic research

There is an increasing interest in local history as a key element of academic studies – not just the content that has been published by local historians over the decades as a key research resource, but also in co-produced projects. Grant-awarding bodies such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have placed an increasing emphasis on collaborations and partnerships when considering the award of research funding, and BALH provides the perfect platform for academic researchers to locate key groups and ongoing activity.

Nick Barratt, Historian and Author

Meet the team

Paul Carter Digital Manager

Paul Carter, Digital Manager

Paul, BALH’s Digital Manager, oversees the Association’s online presence and supports members with web and digital setup. He helps societies navigate technical jargon and adapt to online events and talks. A Chartered IT Professional, he founded Beachshore Design in 2005, a web and cloud software development company specialising in history-related projects. Passionate about family and local history, he developed Name & Place, a powerful cloud-based software designed to support local history projects, one-name studies, one-place studies, and house history research. Combining his expertise in software with a love for history, he enjoys helping BALH and its members make the most of digital opportunities.

Paul Carter, Digital Manager

From our archives

The Amateur Historian Volume 1 Number 6 June July 1953

Royal blood in the people of Britain

Pine, L.G.

pp 166-168

Discussion of the links between royal blood lines and the 'common people'. Pine suggests that very large numbers of people are descended from the various English royal houses, due in no small measure to the many marriages of royal daughters to commoners, and to the extremely numerous illegitimate progeny of members of the royal family over the past nine centuries.

The Amateur Historian Volume 1 Number 6 June July 1953

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