Local history is the study of places and communities. It dates from the time of the great antiquarian county histories from the sixteenth century onwards.

Local history is taught in universities, often at postgraduate level, and each county as well as many villages and towns, have their own societies. Family history, one of the major leisure pursuits in Britain today, is a branch of local history.

The VCH was founded in 1899 with the intention of writing a new and up to date history of each English county and, within each county, each historic parish. So far work has been completed in thirteen counties, and more than 3,250 parish studies have been completed.

Learn more about the VCH.

The VCH publishes:

• volumes which contain parish histories
• volumes devoted to studies of individual towns and cities
• paperbacks under its England's Past for Everyone imprint
• Web materials and resources for the wider community on its Explore website

Have a look at some of the great VCH Guides:

• What is the VCH?
• Working with the VCH
• Writing a VCH Parish History
• Writing a VCH Urban History
• Writing an EPE paperback
• Writing for the Explore website
• Editing for the VCH