Abstract

Geography is a 'territorial' science. It is concerned with the environment, landscapes and place, the meaning and significance of the location and distribution of aspects of the environment. Whatever about the discipline of history in general, local history suggests a clear territorial emphasis in its study. It places a priority on scale and on locality. The local place and 'localness', where it is and its connection with other places assume considerable importance. In this sense therefore, local history has considerable affinity with geographical studies. Geography's role in local historical studies may be characterised by its distinctive objectives, methods and sources. Its object of study is the landscape and its morphology; its method is to examine the making of the landscape in the past and the sources it uses help this process by concentrating especially on those with spatial applications. The following discussion will concentrate broadly on these three themes.