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.

Our latest ten-minute talks

From our blog

Mancunian opposition to the South African crisis (Summer 1899).
Tom Trafford

Tom Trafford

Mancunian opposition to the South African crisis (Summer 1899).

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From Local Archives to Atlantic Migrations: How Family History Helps Reconstruct a Shared Past
Hugo Javier Freitas

Hugo Javier Freitas

From Local Archives to Atlantic Migrations: How Family History Helps Reconstruct a Shared Past

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BALH celebrates another successful collaboration with the Historic Towns Trust
Laura Yeoman

Laura Yeoman

BALH celebrates another successful collaboration with the Historic Towns Trust

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Nazeing at War: A Village Remembers
Jacky Cooper

Jacky Cooper

Nazeing at War: A Village Remembers

» Read article

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

Latest news

Making Your PowerPoint Ten-Minute Talk Video

Making Your PowerPoint Ten-Minute Talk Video

Thu 20th August 2026

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Free Community Heritage Training from The National Archives

Free Community Heritage Training from The National Archives

Fri 3rd July 2026

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Society in Focus: Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society

Society in Focus: Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society

Fri 19th June 2026

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BALH Appoints New Projects Manager

BALH Appoints New Projects Manager

Wed 10th June 2026

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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

Jonathan Mackman Trustee

Jonathan Mackman

Jonathan, a medieval historian with a DPhil from the University of York, has spent his career in historical and archival research. Specializing in records at The National Archives, he has catalogued taxation returns, medieval petitions, and central law court records. He contributed to projects like the Henry III Fine Rolls, Gascon Rolls, and England’s Immigrants, examining immigration from 1300–1550. As an independent researcher, he has worked on diverse historical cases, from medieval buildings to Victorian tea sets. Passionate about Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and East Midlands history, he aims to strengthen ties between local and academic historians as a BALH Trustee.

Jonathan Mackman, Trustee

Forthcoming events

Disturbing the Delicate Peace: The Early Quakers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Disturbing the Delicate Peace: The Early Quakers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Thu 5th November 2026 7:00 pm

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History Day 2026

History Day 2026

Wed 18th November 2026 11:00 am

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British Records Association Conference: All Mapped Out

British Records Association Conference: All Mapped Out

Tue 24th November 2026 12:00 am

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Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Halifax & Hull: Using the Registers of Deeds to evidence women’s capital investment in 19th century Yorkshire

Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Halifax & Hull: Using the Registers of Deeds to evidence women’s capital investment in 19th century Yorkshire

Thu 3rd December 2026 7:00 pm

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Local history bookshop

The Local Historian Volume 56 Number 3 August 2026
The Local Historian Volume 56 Number 3 August 2026
Reading Early Handwriting, 1500-1700
Reading Early Handwriting, 1500-1700
Words From Wills and Other Probate Records
Words From Wills and Other Probate Records
Exploring Local History
Exploring Local History

Visit bookshop

From our archives

The Amateur Historian Volume 7 Number 3 August 1966

The Amateur Historian or Local Historian

Munby, Lionel M.

pp 78-83

A report on a recent survey of the readership of the journal which had been prompted by debate about the title - whether the word 'amateur' was now appropriate? The discussion covers the title of the journal itself, and the proposed change from The Amateur Historian to The Local Historian; the future editorial policy and the debate over 'amateur versus professional'; and readers' comments concerning possible improvements and development of the journal (see also 07 04 102-108).

The Amateur Historian Volume 7 Number 3 August 1966

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