Building History: Online project launched to chart history of the UK's towns, roads and buildings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 8, 2009 -- Launched this week, Building History is a free online resource that encourages people from across the UK to share memories and information about the history of their towns, roads and buildings.

Data can be inputted easily and quickly, using a mechanism similar to Wikipedia. Only a web browser, valid email address and a few minutes of time are required to get going. Building History differs from other sites in that not only 'notable' articles that can be created. Instead pages can be added for all towns, roads and buildings - both those that exist today and those that have existed in the past.

As generations pass, information about how our ancestors lived is often lost or at best fragmented. The recording of memories is a vital starting point for research, pulling together data from records, books, newspapers, maps and photographs. Building History allows those with memories and those conducting research to collaborate together and share data in an easy to navigate and structured way, that can then be accessed by future generations.

Building History allows those conducting genealogy to record information about where their ancestors lived, worked and socialised. It offers a starting point for people new to an area to chart the history of their house and its surroundings.

Older generations are able to use the site to collaboratively reflect on how their towns have changed. It also encourages everyone to make use of public services already available to them. Libraries and records offices hold vast quantities of data that is either not yet published online, or not yet available in a free, re-useable format.

Building History allows easy integration with technologies such as Google Maps and Google Streetview, as well as the ability to add photos uploaded via Flickr. All text added to the site is re-useable under the GNU Free Documentation License.

The site uses a referencing mechanism, that allows memories and first hand information to be distinguished from that which has been already published.

During testing data pertaining to the town of Warwick was used. As such it already contains 400+ articles, including 74 former roads and road names.

The site is available now at: http://www.buildinghistory.org.uk/

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