Guides to Local History | Local History by Town | Local History Directory | Your Local History Stories

'''Local history''' is the study of history in a geographically local context. Often Local History concentrates on the local community, people, places and timelines. It incorporates cultural history and social history aspects of history. 

We all have history, whether its our family history, where we live, or when we live. It is all relevant. Getting started in Local history is fun, and very soon becomes addictive. It does n't matter what you are, what time you have, or your skills, as long as you enjoy it, and have some pride in who you are.

Local History is like being a real detective, in a real world. There are not set ways of doing it. Lots of  resoruces are available but in the ends it you who really does make the difference.

'There are all sorts of motives and reasons for embarking upon the local history trail ...'
Perhaps the world you have known is disappearing - landmarks and mundane ways of life are changing and vanishing, and you want to do something before they are gone completely.

There are all sorts of motives and reasons for embarking upon the local history trail, but all of them lead to the same basic question. How do I find out more about it? Who might tell you about your community, its people and its landscape, in the past?

There is no one way to approach local history and there are great many tips that can help those new to the subject get the best start possible. Even if you only follow some of them you will still be on the road to becoming a successful local historian.