Local history: key sources
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) holds a vast range of different archives that will be of great value to anyone researching local history. PRONI’s Your Family Tree leaflet series and Local History leaflet series will guide you to the most useful archives to consult. For an overview see Local History leaflet 10 – sources for studying local history (29KB) 
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.You could begin your local history study by exploring some of the following:
Ordnance Survey maps
PRONI holds a complete series of Ordnance Survey (OS) maps for Northern Ireland (main PRONI Reference OS) from 1829. These are an essential starting point (and will soon be available for viewing online). They will enable you to track changes in the rural and urban landscape over time - what features have disappeared and what new features have appeared.The early 6 inch OS maps are the first comprehensive record of the landscape and of townland names.
For further details see Local History Leaflet 8 – Ordnance Survey Maps (53KB) .
.Ordnance Survey Memoirs
The Ordnance Survey (OS) Memoirs were compiled between 1830 and 1840 and were written descriptions, commentaries and reports intended to accompany the first Ordnance Survey maps. They largely cover the Province of Ulster and are a unique source of information about the northern half of Ireland before the Great Famine and at the beginning of the industrial revolution.The OS Memoirs have all now been published and are available in PRONI and in public libraries . For further details see Local History Leaflet 3 – Ordnance Survey Memoirs (43KB) .
. For further details see Local History Leaflet 3 – Ordnance Survey Memoirs (43KB) .Valuation books and maps
For details of property holding in Northern Ireland you should consult the valuation books and maps (main PRONI Reference VAL) dating from 1828 onwards and the tithe books from 1823 to 1837.For further information see Family Tree Leaflet 4 – Valuation Records (121KB) and Family Tree Leaflet 23 – Tithe Records (66KB) .
and Family Tree Leaflet 23 – Tithe Records (66KB) .Estate records
If you want to explore the early 19th century and earlier, you should consult the extensive collection of estate records held in PRONI. They record details on, for example, tenants, landholding, farming, the development of towns, transport, emigration, the building of schools and churches as well as local events.For further information see Family Tree Leaflet 8 – Landed Estate Records (42KB) .
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