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

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

Forthcoming events

Huddersfield Local & Family History Fair

Huddersfield Local & Family History Fair

Sat 24th October 2026 10:00 am

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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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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
Dates and Time - A Handbook for Local Historians
Dates and Time - A Handbook for Local Historians

Visit bookshop

From our archives

The Amateur Historian Volume 4 Number 8 Summer 1960

The parish constable in 1830

Johnson, W. Branch

pp 325-328

By 1830 the traditional role of the parish constable had either disappeared or was falling into desuetude, and in 1839 the government would legislate to create county police forces. The article comments on some of the relatively eccentric duties which constables did carry out in 1830, and points to the inadequacy of his position in dealing with the growing problems of a more populous and economically and socially changing society. The widespread dissatisfaction with the work of parish constables was a major factor behind the 1839 Act.

The Amateur Historian Volume 4 Number 8 Summer 1960

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