- These days it is much easier to research local history – many sources have been digitised and can be accessed online. Use these steps and key questions to initiate a study of your locality, its buildings and its people.
- Use this initial study to develop a focused enquiry that motivates your pupils and fulfils the KS3 requirement for pupils to investigate aspects of ... local history and how [it] relates to a broader historical context and to engage with local sources
- View a case study demonstrating the 7 steps in action!
Follow the steps in order or pick the ones that best suit you
Step 1 – What do we already know about our locality?
- Look at a modern map of your locality, websites such as Live Search maps and multi map allow you to see both maps and aerial photographs.
- Ask local people, pupils and use a local website to find out what people already know about your locality.
- Plan a route to take you round the central/oldest/most interesting looking area of your locality –pupils may have a different idea of the most important areas to them.
Step 2 – What can we find out from an initial walk around the area?
- Walk around the route [either alone, with a willing local historian or with pupils] and take photographs [digital if possible]
- Look for interesting looking buildings, any dates, foundation stones, plaques etc, different architectural styles, local architectural quirks.
- Find out more about architecture from Heritage Explorer and the following websites:
- Modify the area of study – it may be possible at this stage to identify a potential focus question for your study. There is no requirement to ‘do’ the history of the whole area or every building. What you need is an interesting/ challenging angle to investigate.
Step 3 – What did this area look like in the past?
- Use historic maps and aerial photos to find out how the area has changed
- Find old photographs of the places you have seen. Ask pupils, staff, local people if they have any photographs or information to share. Compare old and new and look for change and continuity.
- Look at local websites. You can find them via ‘google’ but take care – some are well researched, others less reliable. Most will have old photographs.
- Search Heritage Explorer and other national websites such as www.english-heritage.org.uk/viewfinder
- Look in your local library or bookshop for books based on local old photographs.
- Visit/contact your local archives/museum/heritage centre/library. These may have dedicated education officers who can help you with finding information and identifying a focus. If not the staff will be keen to supply knowledge/old photos/other useful sources. Find your local archive on this website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/
Step 4 – Which buildings tell me the most about the history of the locality?
- Choose some buildings to focus on rather than trying to do the history of the whole place
- Decide which building based on
- Pupils interest
- National importance/ Curriculum relevance
- Look impressive, interesting, quirky etc
- Public buildings generally have better access and more written about them than private houses eg pubs, shops, church, factories, station, mechanics institute, school
- Visit websites such as www.imagesofengland.org.uk
Step 5 - What were the buildings used for?
- Look at evidence from the buildings – plaques, foundation stones, obvious changes such as blocked up doorways
- Oral evidence – ask local people
- Research in archives, museum, local publications etc
- Look at How to trace the history of a building for more information
Step 6 – Who lived and worked here?
Step 7- What was this place all about, what makes it special?
- Do an overview/review of what has been found out.
- Identify one or more enquiry questions for the next stage of the study. Relate to a national theme.
Useful links
Power Point
Tri-fold brochure template
View case studies