Local History

What Local History does

Brewin Books Ltd., operating commercially as Local History Online, is a UK-based niche publishing business headquartered at 56 Alcester Road, Studley, Warwickshire, that has produced Local History Magazine on a bi-monthly basis since July 1984. The publication is positioned as the UK's No.1 national magazine dedicated to local history, featuring comprehensive news sections, exclusive reports on regional history, approximately 50 book and periodical reviews per issue with full bibliographical detail, and coverage of local history events across Great Britain. Distribution and brand reach have been validated through recognition by BBC Radio 4 (Martin Wainwright) and BBC Education (Tracey Turner).

The company operates a website-based content hub (local-history.co.uk) that functions simultaneously as a marketing platform and an integrated online bookshop. Underlying technology is a straightforward e-commerce storefront with PayPal payment processing and Royal Mail fulfillment (UK first/second class and Standard Parcels domestically; international Air Mail and Surface Mail). Beyond the magazine and bookshop, the platform hosts resource directories that extend its utility: a Local History Societies Directory cataloguing 654 societies with websites plus contact details for an additional 561 societies organised by county, a Courses Guide covering UK university and adult-education programmes, a Speakers Directory, a Getting Started guide for beginners, and over 300 curated links to heritage-related external sites.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring magazine subscriptions, one-time back-issue sales at £3.50 per copy (with online archive dating back to November/December 2003, issue 93), and book and map sales through the online bookshop. The customer base consists of individual local history enthusiasts, regional societies (e.g., Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Hebden Bridge Local History Society), adult education students, and general consumers purchasing historical publications. The business is independently owned with no external venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment evidenced, and is staffed by a 7-person team; it operates as a private limited company registered in England (VAT GB705 0077 73).

Name

Local History

Legal name

Brewin Books Ltd.

Website

https://local-history.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brewin Books Ltd. (operating as Local History Online) is a UK-based niche publisher producing Local History Magazine bi-monthly since 1984, distributed via an integrated online bookshop alongside resource directories for enthusiasts and regional societies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage & Local History Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (513130), Book Retailers and News Dealers (45921)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing (MPAJAAAH), Local Search & Business Directories (BPAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Local history magazine
• Heritage publications
• Historical bookselling
• Genealogy resources
• History society directories

Headquarters

HQ city

Studley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Bi-monthly subscription to Local History Magazine, the UK's No.1 national local history publication since 1984
2. Back Issues Sales: Sale of historical magazine back issues from 2003 onwards at £3.50 per issue
3. Online Bookshop: E-commerce platform selling local history books, maps, and related materials

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Local History publishes Local History Magazine, a bimonthly national magazine on UK local history produced since 1984, and operates the Local History Online Bookshop (e-commerce platform on local-history.co.uk) selling magazine subscriptions, back issues from 2003 onwards, and local history books, maps, and related materials. The site also functions as a curated information hub, hosting directories of UK local history societies, courses, speakers, and external heritage/genealogy links, plus a beginner Getting Started guide.

Product overview

Local History operates a platform centered on Local History Magazine, a bimonthly publication covering UK local history since 1984. The core offering includes the magazine distributed through the Online Bookshop, along with complementary resource directories: a Courses Guide (covering university and adult education programs), a Speakers Directory (linking to regional associations), and a Societies Directory (cataloguing over 1,200 local history societies by county). Additional resources include curated links to external history websites and a Getting Started guide for beginners. The platform functions primarily as an information hub and magazine distributor rather than a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Bi-monthly publication since 1984
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• TheGenealogist: A UK genealogy record subscription site serving family historians. Comparable to Local History's resource directories as a digital subscription platform for enthusiast historians, with adjacent (genealogy) rather than identical (local history) focus.

Direct peers

• Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine: A UK genealogy and family history magazine tied to the BBC TV series of the same name. Comparable to Local History Magazine as a periodical serving enthusiast researchers, with overlapping but distinct focus on genealogy rather than local community history.
• History Today: One of the UK's longest-running history magazines (founded 1951) covering British and world history for general and academic readers. Comparable to Local History Magazine as a subscription-driven UK history periodical, but with a much wider thematic scope and institutional backing.
• BBC History Magazine: A monthly history magazine and website published by Immediate Media under BBC Studios licence. Directly comparable to Local History Magazine as a UK periodical serving enthusiast readers, with broader historical scope but stronger digital and brand infrastructure.
• All About History Magazine: A UK monthly history magazine from Future plc covering historical events and figures for general readers. Comparable to Local History Magazine as a consumer-facing UK history periodical, though broader in topic and backed by a major publisher.
• British Heritage Magazine: A US-published magazine focused on British travel, heritage, and history. Comparable to Local History Magazine in covering UK local history themes for enthusiast readers, though oriented primarily toward US audiences traveling to or interested in Britain.
• Phillimore & Co Ltd: A long-established UK publisher specializing in local history books, parish histories, and family history titles. Comparable to Local History's bookshop as a publisher/retailer specifically focused on UK local history book content, and a likely acquisition or partnership candidate.
• Family Tree Magazine: A US-based genealogy and family history magazine serving hobbyist researchers. Comparable to Local History Magazine in serving enthusiast researchers via subscription print and digital editions, though the audience and primary market (US vs UK) differ.

Broad incumbents

• The History Press: A major UK publisher of local, regional, and general history books across the British Isles. Comparable to Local History's bookshop operations as a publisher with deep UK local history catalog reach, and a potential wholesale or content partner.
• Pen & Sword Books: A large UK independent publisher of military, local, and family history books. Comparable to Local History's bookshop as a publisher and retailer of local and regional history titles, with much broader catalog scale and multiple imprints.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/local-history

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Local History