The Finance (1909-10) Act (10 Edw. VII, c.8) led to the compilation of a nationwide survey of property. Each property was, when valued, allotted a hereditament number. Details were then entered into a field book, and each hereditament number was recorded on an Ordinance Survey map. These Valuation Office maps are held here in IR 121/1 to IR 121/11 and IR 124/1 to IR 135/9. The field books are in IR 58. Working maps and Valuation Books are, where they survive, generally held in local record offices. London and Westminster Valuation Books are however held with us.

Field books can be of great value for house historians. They normally contain information about owners and occupiers, the owner's interest (whether freehold or copyhold), details of tenancy and the area covered by a particular property. They may also include information about the date of erection, number of rooms and state of repair, and, in some cases, may even include a sketch-plan of the property.

See our research guide on Valuation Office records.