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

Daniella Gonzalez Trustee

Daniella Gonzalez

Daniella is a medievalist specialising in political discourse, language, and civic life in pre-modern London. She is currently developing her PhD research into a monograph while working as a Project Archivist at the University of Kent’s Special Collections & Archives and pursuing an archive qualification at Aberystwyth University. With experience in libraries and archives, she has engaged audiences with local history through workshops, digital outreach, and freelance cataloguing. A former BALH Social Media Fellow, she is passionate about making local history accessible. She is also involved with ARA, the Royal Historical Society, and the London Medieval Society.

Daniella Gonzalez, Trustee

From our archives

The Amateur Historian Volume 7 Number 4 November 1966

Military history from local history sources

Little, Reginald H.

pp 112-118

A case-study of the military history of the parish of Sopley, Hampshire. Initial research, which involved investigating various monuments and tombs in the parish church, revealed several references to military careers of local people, including those of high-ranking officers in the army and navy. The author was able to trace the careers of some of these men using regimental and other military records, newspaper articles, army lists and searches for portraits.

The Amateur Historian Volume 7 Number 4 November 1966

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