The Centre for English Local History

An Illustrated Tour of Marc Fitch House

The academic approach of the Centre is unique, perhaps best described as the historical study, on a comparative basis, of English regional landscapes and local societies. The Centre has been a pioneer in this field with a tradition in scholastic excellence dating back to its first professor, W. G. Hoskins.

The Centre is noted for its friendly, relaxed manner and most students appreciate the degree of attention which a small, post-graduate Centre can afford to give. Such are the links between staff and students that many ex-students join the Friends of the Centre. With four full-time members of the teaching staff, the Centre manages an impressive array of teaching centred on the MA course. In addition there are usually about 30 registered research students, both part- and full-time.

The Centre is accommodated in its own premises, Marc Fitch House on Salisbury Road, just off the main University campus. The most important asset of the Centre is the Marc Fitch Fund Library, built up over many years by F. W. Steer and Dr Fitch. It forms an important collection covering all aspects of local history. In addition, the Map Rooms contain a complete coverage of England and Wales, both Ordnance Survey and many facsimiles of historical maps, and rare sets of original maps.

The Centre also has an archive, containing, inter alia, the working papers of the two distinguished local historians W. G. Hoskins and F. W. Steer, rare topographical prints and bequests of slide collections. Many of these collections are currently being input to a database in Ingres to allow Janet and Internet access in the future. In addition to these collections, the Centre has a common room, seminar rooms, and computer, microfiche and tracing facilities. PhD students have study rooms with extensive desk space and computer facilities in No.1 Salisbury Road. The Centre is connected to the main campus computer networks.