This historiographical survey of county history in England reflects the burgeoning growth of interest in local communities and in the writing of local histories. Introductory chapters on county history and architectural guides and inventories are followed by a county-by-county discussion of the development of their local histories written by local specialists; these contain a variety of information about the development of local historiography from the days of antquarian writers to the more sophisticated work of modern county historical societies. Unpublished histories and antiquaries' collections are drawn into consideration, as are outstanding studies of individual places, county bibliographies, and record, historical and archaeological societies which have made important contributions.