I've been using this site to check local history for my woodland management plan. I thought it would be useful for anyone here to get to know what information is known about the areas they're in. It might be worth a play if you're interested. Details and link from the site as follows:
Search for information on England's historic sites and buildings, including images of listed buildings.
This website allows you to cross-search over 60 resources, offering local and national information relating to Englands heritage. Click here for full details of the range of records that you can search on this website
http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/