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

Land Registry Searches  Undertake ‘searches’ for a fee even if you are not the owner.

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 archivePhotographs from the Express and Star archive

Bomb damage, August 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.”