1 Visit your local history archives (usually the main borough or county library). Here you will find electoral registers, maps and local history books. They may also hold deeds, newspaper cuttings, estate agent brochures and photographs.

2 Look at the physical features of your house. Recognising the style of architecture will help to narrow your search. Try the dating tool at bricksandbrass.co.uk

3 Check that house numbers and street names have not changed.

4 Maps can give an estimated date for the construction of your house. Ordnance Survey maps, published from 1854 onwards, are very detailed. Also check parish maps, estate maps, the Charles Booth poverty map (booth.lse.ac.uk) or historic maps of London (motco.com)

5 Census records, electoral registers and rate books are excellent ways to trace the social history of your house.

6 Search the Times Archive, which goes back to 1785. Go to: archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/archive

7 Other excellent internet sites are nationalarchives.gov.uk , cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma and british-history.ac.uk

8 Consult your local planning department. It may hold records and information on alterations and changes to your house since the 1900s.

9 Lastly, be patient. You may not find the information you want immediately. If you find yourself at a dead end, go back to information of which you are certain and try a different route.

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