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

Tim Lomas Trustee

Tim Lomas

Tim has been deeply involved with BALH since joining its Education Committee before 1990. He has served on Advisory Committees, as Deputy Chair, and as Chair for the maximum six-year term. A former teacher, examiner, inspector, and educational manager, he championed teaching and learning within BALH, playing a key role in the Teacher Fellowship scheme. With a doctorate in medieval social and economic history, his interests also span educational and transport history. Now retired, he remains active as a trustee of the Historical Association and Devon History Society, residing in South Devon for its practical London connections.

Tim Lomas, Trustee

From our archives

The Amateur Historian Volume 4 Number 2 Winter 1958-9

Castle hunting in the south of England

Roche, T.W.E.

pp 62-65

The first section of a two-part study of castle sites and the history of castles, which are defined as fortified dwellings and buildings constructed in the 500 years after 1066. The author recommends the use of maps and guides to locate these sites, backed up with extensive fieldwork. Basic structures and construction techniques are outlined, including the simple motte and bailey, keeps, moats and defensive walls - a number of examples are mentioned. Various designs are discussed and analysed, including the development of gatehouses and 'chains' of defensive emplacements. Finally the author notes the destruction of many fine examples during the Civil War (see also 04 03 95-97). 

The Amateur Historian Volume 4 Number 2 Winter 1958-9

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