LOCAL HISTORYBUILT

ENVIRONMENT

Tricia Cooper R.I.B.A.

School of Art and Design

University of Wolverhampton

Researching buildings is easy!

Asset value Increasing capital potential Ownership is symbolic of both power

and wealth Aesthetic appeal Significant to people and place

Initial Sources

Historic Maps Ordinance Survey Regional and Local Plans Estate plans Deeds of ownership (Boundaries) Google Earth!

Deeds

Provides data about ownership and timelines

Secure storage Often kept in the same hands Legal proof implies factual accuracy Restrictions of use Rights of way

Land Registry Detailed property information on title

kept on register

DescriptionTenure

Name and Address of the OwnerPurchase price

Name and address of mortgage lenderRestrictionsEasements Covenants

Land Registry Searches

Undertake ‘searches’ for a fee even if you are not the owner.

LeasesCommon Land

HistoryTenancies

InsolvenciesLists of properties in single ownership

Land Registry Searches

Neighbourhood reports (£50) photographs, planning applications, rights of way, housing market index, council tax banding, people type, crime details, education, amenities and mobile phone masts!

Flood reports Coal Mining Ground stability

Land Registry Searches

Land contamination Chancel Search report (National

Archive) Old maps

They will almost do the research for you!

Planning departments

Listed Buildings Buildings at Risk Register Planning Application and approval

register Good local knowledge and linkages Historic images, plans and drawings

Local Archives

Good for people and place information in order to contextualise statistical and factual data

Particularly good for Local Architectural Knowledge

Particularly good for buildings with a particular history or use

Royal Institute of British Architects Holds an extensive British architectural

drawing and archive collection from the Renaissance to the present day

Holds a collection of works by a considerable number of Architects that includes drawings, models, paintings, furniture etc.

Has the job files for a significant number of projects

Organisations

S.P.A.B.-Charitable and mainly volunteer organisation founded by William Morris for the care and repair of old buildings

Ancient monuments National Trust English Heritage Department of the Environment

Interest groups

The Georgian Society Buildings Preservation Trusts Museums of buildings Devotees of significant Architects

Newspapers

Express and Star Archive

Express and Star archive Photographs from the Express and Star archive

Bomb damage, August 1942.

Unlike others in the collection, this image was passed for print by the Censor.

Photograph from the Express and Star archive

The City Archive housed in the Renovated Molineux Hotel Building

Specific Documents The Weller Archive

Wolverhampton Architectural

Dynasty

Other Archive Sources

Banks Retailers Commercial property portfolio owners Pension funds Utility providers

Why bother about buildings? Time team Renovation Man Who do you think you are? To the Manor reborn

“The historical biography of a community can be told through their architecture and the way they value their environs.”