Researching Local History

This guide offers useful techniques for researching local history.  It focuses on the history of Sunderland in North East England, using this as a case study. The guide explains research methods used by local historians and suggests some of the most useful primary and secondary sources available. It takes time to build up research skills, but here are a few useful tricks of the trade.

Where should I look?

Sunderland has several public and private archives open to researchers. Good starting points are:

? Sunderland City Library and Art Gallery

? Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

? Sunderland Antiquarian Society

? Living History North East at the Donnison School

Sources: Primary and Secondary

Historical sources are divided into two broad types: primary and secondary. Primary sources are documents or artefacts that were produced at the time under study or by the person in question. They can be understood as first-hand accounts. Examples of primary sources include:

? Original letters, diaries and manuscripts

? Newspapers, periodicals and journals from the period

? Historic maps

? Public records and official documents

? Autobiographies by historical figures

? Buildings and artefacts from the period

Secondary sources are documents produced after the period under study. They are usually based on primary sources and can thus be understood as secondary accounts. Examples include:

? Biographies of historical figures

? Most historical books

? Textbooks

? Journal articles

? Critical studies

? Encyclopaedias

When we research a subject, we have to know who has already written about it; what are the key texts? For this reason it is important to consult secondary sources. These will provide useful starting points for your research. To gain an overview of the literature published on your subject, use the City Library’s online catalogue:

http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/49

Start by entering a few keywords and see what comes up. If you can’t find anything immediately, widen your search field by using a wider range of keywords.

Another valuable resource is the integrated catalogue of the British Library in London. This is available online, and will enable you to make a comprehensive survey of the books published on your subject.

http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/?func=file&file_name=login-bl-list

Research is like detective work: we follow clues from one source to the next. Much of the research process involves working backwards from secondary to primary sources. When you read a useful book on your subject, turn to the back and examine the bibliography. Which sources has the author relied on? In particular, which primary sources have been used? You can also look at the references, which should be in the form of either footnotes or endnotes. These will help you identify useful primary sources, which you can then find for yourself.

Useful secondary sources

A number of important studies of Sunderland’s history have been published. The following books are all available in libraries throughout Sunderland.

? Most recently, the Victoria County History has produced two invaluable paperback books. Sunderland and Its Origins: Monks to Mariners by Maureen M. Meikle and Christine M. Newman (2008) examines the town’s early history. Sunderland: Building a City by Gill Cookson (2010) surveys the town’s modern history from 1719 to the present. These works are based on the latest up-to-date research and will make excellent starting points for your studies.

? The historians Geoffrey Milburn and Stuart Miller published an extremely comprehensive study, Sunderland: River, Town and People (1988). This book includes scholarly essays on the town’s social history, built environment and industrial development. The volume also includes an excellent research guide, although some of this information is now out of date.

? Geoffrey Milburn conducted extensive research into the town’s history and was a particular authority on the Methodist faith. Buildings and Beliefs (1984) is an excellent concise summary of notable places of worship. Church and Chapel in Sunderland (1988) is a more exhaustive study of the town’s religious architecture.

? The historian Tom Corfe produced a number of valuable studies. Wearmouth Heritage (1975) provides a concise overview of Sunderland’s history as manifested in its notable buildings. A History of Sunderland (1973) is a more detailed study.

? The Buildings of Sunderland (1983) is a useful examination of Sunderland’s architecture, including its industrial buildings. Contributors include Tom Corfe, Geoffrey Milburn and Graham Potts. The book covers the period 1814-1914

? Sunderland Antiquarian society produced a long-running journal entitled Antiquities of Sunderland. In recent years the title changed to Sunderland’s History. The journal has featured many articles on Sunderland’s history and heritage. Past volumes are available in the City Library’s Local Studies department.

Useful tips:

When you get to the library, don’t simply grab the book you want: browse around. Non-fiction books are grouped according to subject, so there may be other useful items nearby on the same shelf.

Remember to:

? Keep a detailed record of every source you use, carefully noting the date, reference number etc. This will help you to find the same source again and will make your work more valuable for future researchers.

? Write up your research notes as soon as possible. Notes scribbled while in the archive can become hard to decipher in a few days. Write up the results of your research while it is still fresh in your mind.

? A digital camera can be used to copy documents, but you must have permission from the archivists/librarian before you do this.

? Ask for help: librarians and archivists are subject specialists and will be able to help with your research.

Libraries and Archives

The major libraries and archives in the region are listed below in alphabetical order.

City Library and Arts Centre

The Local Studies department of the City Library has a wealth of local information, including local and family history. Its holdings cover the historic County of Durham, with particular emphasis on Sunderland. It contains over 10,000 books on Sunderland and other places in the county, as well as journals, maps, photographs, newspapers and official records. Many of these are kept behind the counter so you will need to ask the staff for help. The computer catalogue can also be used to find books in stock.

Major holdings include:

? Copies of local newspapers from 1831 onwards. As well as the Sunderland Echo (from 1873 to date), this includes discontinued papers such as Sunderland Herald and Sunderland Gazette. These are available on microfilm, so will need to book a microfilm reader in advance. For more details see: http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1557

? A large collection of maps dating from 1723. This includes every Ordnance Survey map of Sunderland from the 1st edition of 1855 to the latest printed editions. Also available are the 6-inch to the mile maps of County Durham. There are geological maps of the area and some specialised plans, such as Admiralty Charts of the local coastline. Maps are invaluable for gaining a sense of Sunderland’s urban form and charting its evolution over time.

? Trade directories such as Ward’s and Christie’s. Trade directories are crucial sources for local historians. They reveal which businesses were operating in the town and can be very helpful in tracing the history of individual streets and buildings.

? Alf Rodenby Collection, a lifetime's worth of research concerning Sunderland shipping. The collection covers many aspects, although the principal focus is Sunderland shipowners and their vessels.

? Corder Manuscripts, a unique source written in the early years of the last century. The volumes cover pedigrees of Sunderland families and shipbuilders, together with histories of older Sunderland streets.

? Census Data

? Electoral Registers

? Parish Registers

? Photographs and Prints

? Facsimiles of the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Codex Amiatinus

The Library has copies of Antiquities of Sunderland, the journal of Sunderland Antiquarian Society. Published from 1900 onwards, it is now called Sunderland’s History and features many useful articles. A partial index was published in volume XXI (1954).

Other local journals include:

? Archaeologia Aeliana

? Durham Archaeological Journal

? Durham County Local History Society Bulletin

? Northern History

? Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne

Durham Chapter Library

Durham Chapter Library has a wide-ranging collection, including material on the history, life and culture of the North East. The library contains material pertaining to Sunderland north of the Wear, including 12th century deeds relating to Monkwearmouth and Southwick, 19th century accounts of the Durham Priory cell at Monkwearmouth, as well as leases and estate records for Dean and Chapter lands.

Items include:

? Longstaffe and Sharp papers

? Mitchison photo album

? Raine’s collection of early 19th century election material

? Alan Heesom's published lists on Durham election material

? Charles Thorp's visitation books of church plans

Durham County Record Office

Durham County Record Office is responsible for collecting and preserving the archives of people and organisations in County Durham. Before 1974, County Durham stretched from Tyne to Tees and included Sunderland. The DRO collection includes the records of the County Council and other local authorities, the Durham Light Infantry, churches, businesses, families and estates, schools and colleges, and clubs and societies. There is a wealth of material pertaining to Sunderland.

The online catalogue for Durham Record Office is exceptionally detailed, and in some cases full transcripts of documents are available. In general, though, you will need to visit DRO and other record offices to do your own searches, or commission a local researcher to find what you need.

http://www.durham.gov.uk/recordoffice

Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections

Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections are rich with resources about the history of Sunderland. Founded in 1833, the Library is located on Palace Green. The collection includes over 70, 000 books printed before 1850, as well as medieval manuscripts, maps, prints and photographs.

http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/asc/

Living History North East

Living History North East is an oral history resource established in 1995. Based at the Donnison School in Church walk, it is dedicated to recording living memories from across the North East. Oral History can be defined as the recording, preservation and interpretation of historical information, based on the personal experiences and opinions of the speaker. The database already registers over 1000 oral history recordings and related documents from across the region. Living History North East also holds an outstanding collection of historic photographs.

www.lhne.co.uk

Sunderland Antiquarian Society

Sunderland Antiquarian Society, founded in 1900, has an extensive archive relating to Sunderland and its history. The archive is accessible to members and visitors, but an appointment must be booked as the society relies on volunteers. The society is currently based in Sunderland Minster.

The collection includes parish registers, trade directories, school records, maps, posters and bills for County Durham elections, the Doxford Shipping Archive, River Wear Commissioners files, a large collection of North East Methodist material, collections on football, transport, shipping, mining and glassmaking. A copy of Rain’s Eye Plan is available.

http://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org/

Tyne & Wear Archives

Tyne & Wear Archives Service is the record office for the metropolitan districts of Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside and North Tyneside, and includes many documents relating to the history of Sunderland. Based in Blandford House, Newcastle, the Archives holds documents from the 12th century to the present.

http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/

There is more detail about the Sunderland collections at the Tyne and Wear Archives on the Access to Archives website: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/

Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record

Based in the West Chapel of Jesmond Old Cemetery, Newcastle, this collection offers information on archaeological sites, finds, historic buildings and industrial and war time sites in Tyne and Wear. Excavation reports, desk-based assessments and other grey literature, books and journals, photographs and maps are also available.

http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk

Museums in Tyne and Wear

Fulwell Windmill

Fulwell Windmill is a famous landmark and one of Sunderland’s most treasured heritage sites. Completed in 1808, the Mill is a Grade II listed building. Now operating as a museum, the mill offers a number of activities to raise awareness of local heritage in Sunderland.

http://www.fulwell-windmill.com

Monkwearmouth Station Museum

Monkwearmouth Station Museum is housed in an outstanding Grade II* listed building designed in the Greek Revival style by Thomas Moore. The station was commissioned by the famous railway entrepreneur George Hudson. The building, incorporating the original station, now houses seven interactive galleries, including a Children's Gallery.

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/monkwearmouth

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

Sunderland Museum has a vast collection of photographs of old Sunderland, including street scenes and views of notable buildings.

The local galleries at Sunderland Museum are especially interesting:

? The Museum’s art gallery contains many fine oil paintings from a Victorian collector's private gallery, together with paintings and watercolours from all periods. Works by L. S. Lowry are on display, along with many views of Sunderland.

? The textiles collection includes embroideries, quilts, rag rugs and ganseys representing the region’s rich tradition of textile craft.

? The Museum has the world's largest collection of Sunderland pottery, including examples of the famous pink lustreware.

? Sunderland’s glassmaking industry dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when stained glass windows were made for St Peter's Monastery at Monkwearmouth. The Museum’s display represents the great range of glassware made during the last 200 years.

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland/news/gallery-closures-at-sunderland-museum-winter-gardens/

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/monkwearmouth/

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/washington/

Online resources

Online resources can be very useful for preliminary research and make visits to archives more productive. If you are planning to visit an archive, library or museum, check the website first to familiarise yourself with the collection. The following online resources provide useful information.

A2A: Access to Archives

The A2A database contains catalogues to archives held locally in England and Wales, dating from the eighth century to the present day.

www.A2A.org.uk

British Library Manuscript Collection

As well as searching the British Library’s full integrated catalogue, it is possible to search the manuscript catalogue, covering handwritten documents of all kinds.

www.bl.uk

Church Plans Online

Church Plans Online is a digital archive of 13, 000 plans from the archive of the Incorporated Church Building Society, which was founded in 1818 to provide funds for the building of Anglican churches throughout England and Wales.

http://www.churchplansonline.org/

Chronological Table of Local Acts, 1797-2008

This online version of the Local Act Table lists in chronological order all Local Acts passed by Parliament between 1797 and the end of 2008.

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/chron-tables/local/local_chron_contents.htm

Durham Cathedral Library: Pictures in Print

The Durham Cathedral Library collection includes prints, drawings, plans, maps, photographs, and brass rubbings of Durham Cathedral, with some material on Durham City and County. Printed maps and topographical prints of County Durham are available as part of the ‘Pictures in Print’ collection.

http://www.durham.ac.uk/picturesinprint/

Images of England

Images of England is a photographic library of England’s listed buildings. Users can view over 300, 000 images of England’s built heritage, together with written descriptions.

http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

The Dictionary of National Biography is a reference work on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated Oxford Dictionary of National Biography was published online in 2004. Nearly all public libraries in the UK subscribe to the Oxford DNB online. This means you can access the dictionary free via your local library.

http://www.oxforddnb.com/

Sunderland Heritage Quarter on Facebook

Sunderland Heritage Quarter has a Facebook page, featuring further information and images. Please feel free to join the group and share your knowledge, photographs and memories of Sunderland’s historic East End.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_193192617364390&ap=1

Further Reading

Bibliographies, dictionaries and research guides

A number of bibliographies, dictionaries and guides to archival sources have been published. These will guide you to sources on specific research topics. If you can’t find these books in local libraries they can be requested via inter-library loan:

J. Bellamy & J. Saville, Dictionary of Labour Biography (1976)

T. Corfe (ed.), Historical Atlas of County Durham (1993)

S. R. Craggs, Theses on North East England (1983)

J. E. Norton, Guide to the National and Provincial Directories of England and Wales… before 1856 (1984)

Pressnell & Orbell, A Guide to the Historical Records of British Banking (1985)

D. J. Rowe (ed.) Northern Business Histories: a bibliography (1979)

Historical studies

The following texts should help with your research. This list is not exhaustive.

G. R. Batho, Durham Biographies, [2 vols.]

J. A. Birkbeck, A List of Durham and Northumberland Newspapers to 1860 (1971)

D. M. Butler, The Quaker meeting houses of Britain (1999)

W. Brockie, Sunderland Notables (1894)

J. Burgess, Architects and Architecture of Northumberland and Durham (2008)

T. Corfe, A History of Sunderland (1973)

T. Corfe, Wearmouth Heritage (1975)

J. Cosin, A New and Accurate Description of the Present Great Roads and the Principal Crossroads of England and Wales (1756)

F. W. S. Craig (ed.), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1832-1885 (1989)

F. W. S. Craig (ed.), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1885-1918 (1989)

F. W. S. Craig (ed.), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1918-1949 (1983)

F. W. S. Craig (ed.), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1950-1973 (1983)

F. W. S. Craig (ed.), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1974-1983 (1984)

L.P. Crangle, The Roman Catholic Community in Sunderland from the 16th century (1969)

J.H. Crosby, Ignacious Bonomi of Durham, Architect (1987)

P. J. Davison, Brickworks of the North East (1986)

T.F. Dibdin, A Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in the Northern Counties (1838)

M. P. Fogarty, Prospects of the Industrial Areas of Great Britain (1945)

W. Fordyce, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham (1857)

T. Fordyce, Local Records and Historical Register of Remarkable Events (1876)

G. Garbutt, History of Monkwearmouth, Bishopwearmouth and Sunderland (1819)

J. Granger, General View of the Agriculture of the County of Durham (1794)

A. Greg, Victorian and Edwardian Architecture in the Northeast (1981)

J. Hatcher, The History of the British Coal Industry: Before 1700: towards the Age of Coal (1993) [and later volumes]

C. Hind, and J. McKinstry, Architectural Images of the North 1700-1950 (1998)

R. I. Hodgson, Demographic trends in County Durham, 1560-1801 (1978)

C. J. Hunt, The Book Trade in Northumberland and Durham to 1860 (1975)

R. Hutchins, Sunderland Parish Church: A Short History (1982)

W. Hutchinson, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham (1794)

J. Jamieson, Durham at the Opening of the Twentieth Century (1906)

J.G. James, ‘Thomas Wilson’s Cast Iron Bridges 1800-1810’ in Transactions of the Newcomen Society, 50, 1978-9, pp55-72.

L. James, A Chronology of the Construction of Britain's Railways, 1778-1855 (1983)

J.J. Kitts, ‘The Subscription Library’ in Antiquities of Sunderland, IX, 1908.

G. T. Lapsley, The County Palatine of Durham: a Study in Constitutional History (1900)

J. Latimer, Local Records (1857)

F. W. D. Manders, Bibliography of British Newspapers: Durham and Northumberland (1982)

N. McCord and D. T. Rowe, Northumberland and Durham: An Industrial Miscellany (1971)

P. Meadows and E. Waterson, Lost Houses of County Durham (1993)

G.E Milburn and S.T. Miller (ed.) Sunderland: River, Town and People: A history from the 1780s (1988)

G.E. Milburn, ‘Wesleyanism in Sunderland Sunderland’ in Antiquities of Sunderland, XXVI 1977-9, pp95-6

S.T. Miller, ‘The River Wear Commission’ in Antiquities of Sunderland, XXVII, 1977-9.

M. Milne, The Newspapers of Northumberland and Durham: a Study of their Progress during the 'Golden Age' of the Provincial Press (1971)

W.C. Mitchell, History of Sunderland (1919)

J. Ogilby, Britannia (1675)

D. Paterson, A New & Accurate Description of all the Direct and Principal Crossroads in England and Wales (1794)

L.F. Pearson, Index of North Eastern Architects 1860-1914 (1991)

L.F. Pearson, The Northumbrian Pub: An Architectural History (1989)

N. Pevsner, and E. Williamson, The Buildings of England: County Durham (2002)

M. Phillips, A History of Banks, Bankers and Banking in Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire (1894)

W.T. Pike, Contemporary Bibliographies (1906)

G. Potts, ‘Frank Caws: Sunderland Architect’ in Sunderland’s History, 1998

T. Potts, Sunderland: A History of the Town, Port and Commerce (1892)

H. D. Pritchett, The Bridges of the County of Durham (1931)

M. A. Richardson, Local Historian’s Table Book (1841-6) [4 vols.]

B. K. Roberts, The Green Villages of County Durham (1977)

J. Robinson, ‘Some Historic Houses in Sunderland, illustrated with plans and photographs’ in Antiquities of Sunderland, IV, 1903

W. Robinson, The Story of the Royal Infirmary, Sunderland (1934)

R. Ryder, 'Council house building in County Durham, 1900-1939: the local implementation of national policy', in M. J. Daunton (ed.), Councillors and Tenants: Local Authority Housing in English Cities, 1919-1939 (1984), pp40-100.

C. Stell, An Inventory of Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting Houses in the North of England (1994)

P.J. Storey, ‘Sunderland Newspapers’ in Antiquities of Sunderland, XXVII, 1977-9

J.W. Summers, History and Antiquities of Sunderland, Bishopwearmouth and Monkwearmouth (1858)

R. Surtees, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham (1816-40) [3 vols.]

J. Sykes, Local Records (1824-33) [2 vols.]

J. J. Vickerstaffe, 'A gazetteer of Durham county schools, 1400-1640', Durham County Local History Society Bulletin, XLI (1988), pp3-14

Victoria County History of Durham (1905-28) [3 vols.]

V. E. Watts, A Dictionary of County Durham Placenames (2002)

R. Welford, Men of Mark 'twixt Tyne and Tweed (1895)

J. Wood, Town Atlas of Northumberland and Durham, 1820-7 (1991)