About the Centre : English Local History : University of Leicester

Welcome to the Centre for English Local History

The Victorian Home of the Centre, Salisbury Road

The Centre for English Local History is unique, because it is devoted to the study of local history everywhere in England and Wales. Its foundation helped to found local history as a respected academic discipline, and after many universities and colleges have taken up the subject, it is respected as the pioneer, and as a continuing source of new ideas. Its staff are all very active researchers, who pursue their own projects, and apply for research grants, often over long periods. The Leicester approach is concerned with the interaction between society and landscape. The comparative method is used to test hypotheses and interpretations, which might include comparisons with places outside the British Isles. Research often involves the use of other disciplines, involving anthropology, archaeology, architecture, art history, folklore, geography and literary studies. The variety of themes include social, economic, political, religious, cultural and landscape history.

Students can take MA degrees, which are taught weekly over a year (or two years for part-timers), and these can lead to M.Phil. or Ph.D. degrees, and at any one time at least 20 research students are preparing theses.

The Centre organises a fortnightly seminar through the year, and occasional conferences.

The Centre is accommodated in a Victorian house, provided by a generous benefactor, Marc Fitch. There are a wide range of facilities, including a library, a map library, access to computers, and a common room. Research students are accommodated in no. 1 Salisbury Road.

Contacting Us

Centre for English Local History
Marc Fitch Historical Institute
University of Leicester
5 Salisbury Road
Leicester, LE1 7QR
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)116 252 2762
Fax: +44 (0)116 252 5769
Email: elhinfo@le.ac.uk