What is English Local History? -- Preliminaries to Research -- People and Population: the Sources -- Landed Property, Wealth and Poverty: the Sources -- Agricultural History: the Sources -- Trade, Industry and Occupations: the Sources -- Living Conditions, Education, Religion and Leisure: the Sources

"How has the place we live in changed, developed, and grown over the centuries? That is the basic question local historians seek to answer. The answer is to be found in the sources of information that previous generations have left us. The records of parish, county, and diocesan administration, of the courts, of the national government, and of private estates, all have something to tell us about the history of the locality we are interested in. so do old newspapers and other publications. All of these sources are readily available, but many have been little used...Whether you are a student researching a dissertation, a family historian interested in the wider background history of your family, a teacher, a librarian, an archivist, an academic, or are merely interested in the history of your own area, this book is for you. If you want to research local history, you need a detailed account of the myriad sources readily available. This book provides a comprehensive overview of those sources, and its guidance will enable you to explore and exploit their vast range." --