Welcome to the Victoria County History

England's Past for Everyone

Founded in 1899 and originally dedicated to Queen Victoria, the VCH is an encyclopaedic record of England's places and people from earliest times to the present day.

It is without doubt the greatest publishing project in English local history, having built an international reputation for scholarly standards.

Based at the Institute of Historical Research in the University of London since 1933, the VCH is written by historians working in counties across England.

Update: Learn more about volunteering with the VCH.

News and Events

	National Site: VCH Cumbria established The Cumbria County History Trust has recently been established and will be launched on the 15th May 2010.
	National Site: Professor Christopher Elrington (1930-2009) On 27 February 2010 around 200 people gathered in the Beveridge Hall of the University of London's Senate House building, to celebrate the life and work of Professor Christopher Elrington, General Editor of the VCH 1977-94.
	: Six more volumes available online The addition of volumes 5, 7, 11 and 13-15 completes the digitally published coverage of the parishes of the county.
	National Site: Marc Fitch Lecture The annual lecture sponsored by the Marc Fitch Fund will take place in the IHR on 28 June 2010 at 6 p.m.
	National Site: International Symposium A follow-up to the successful event in 2009 will be held at the IHR on 28 June 2010.