Become a research volunteer

Researching a designed landscape is like doing a jigsaw puzzle with not only some pieces missing but mini-jigsaws inside

    Skills needed for landscape research

    • A basic interest and knowledge of gardens and their history
    • Some basic research experience would be useful
    • Interpretation skills – the ability to spot ‘clues’, think laterally, fill in gaps in information
    • Happy to work with uncertainty
    • Curiosity, patience and determination
    • Willingness to write reports

    You can choose to work on your own or with other volunteers. Informal training sessions will be available together with help and guidance from the more experienced members of our team.

    Getting started

    • Brief chronology of estate including owners is a useful starting point
    • Identify key points in time when changes occur – transfer of ownership, changing fashions
    • Concentrate research on these time points and individuals involved

    See our Methods of research and recording page for further information.

    If you are interested in volunteering and want to know more, please contact research@yorkshiregardenstrust.org.uk.

    There are many sources now online, see list below that we have found most useful:

    Archives

    National Archives

    Catalogue of items in National Collection and elsewhere – a useful starting point. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

    Borthwick Institute for Archives (University of York)

    Holds many records from York Diocese including tithe maps. Online Catalogue - https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/

    Doncaster Archives

    Online Catalogue - http://www.calmview.eu/doncaster/calmview/

    East Riding Archives

    Online Catalogue - https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/CalmView/

    Leeds University Archives

    Brotherton Library – has the archives of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society. Online Catalogue - http://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-search

    North Yorkshire County Record Office

    Online Catalogue - https://archivesunlocked.northyorks.gov.uk/CalmView/default.aspx

    Sheffield Archives

    Online Catalogue - http://www.calmview.eu/SheffieldArchives/CalmView/Overview.aspx

    Teesside Archives

    Online Catalogue - http://teessidearchives.middlesbrough.gov.uk/calmview/

    West Yorkshire Archive Service

    5 locations – Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Wakefield. Online catalogue for all locations - http://catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/

    Historic Maps

    Historic Ordnance Survey maps & County Maps

    National Library of Scotland – https://maps.nls.uk/

    Ordnance Survey drawings and 1st edition 1" maps (c. 1805 - 1844) 

    Note these are limited for Yorkshire

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ordnance_Survey_Drawings

    https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231917049/view

    Warburton’s 1720 map of Yorkshire

    https://bvpb.mcu.es/es/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.do?path=162712&forma=&posicion=1

    Jeffrey's map of Yorkshire, 3rd edition (c. 1800)

    https://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A92720

    Historical Sources

    Domesday Book

    Online version searchable by place - https://opendomesday.org/

    Victoria County History

    York, East & North Ridings only - https://www.british-history.ac.uk/search/series/vch--yorks

    Historic Environment Databases

    Archaeology Data Service

    They have made available unpublished archaeology and field reports on sites including parks and gardens: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/greylit/

    Heritage Gateway

    Starting point of reference has links to listed buildings, scheduled monuments, national and local monument records and excavations. http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/ 

    For a guide to Historic Environment Records, please see HER Guide by one of our volunteers, Mags Waughman.

    Most of the Historic Environment Records across Yorkshire have online databases that can be queried using the Heritage Gateway. Some have their own online databases, as listed below:

    City of York Historic Environment Record

    https://her.york.gov.uk/

    North York Moors Historic Environment Record

    https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/archaeology/her-map

    Redcar & Cleveland Historic Environment Record

    https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/resident/planning-and-building/conservation-and-listed-buildings/Pages/historic-environment-record.aspx

    Tees Archaeology Historic Environment Record

    http://www.teesarchaeology.com/projects/HER/HER.html

    Yorkshire Dales Historic Environment Record

     http://www.outofoblivion.org.uk/

    National Heritage List

    Official national list of listed buildings, scheduled monuments and other statutory designations. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/