The Research Workshop produces stimulating, authoritative house histories

From thatched cottage to manorial estate
For personal indulgence
The ultimate gift
Sorting the fact from the fiction
Archive research and genealogy
Ancient maps and old photographs
Leather bound books and private publications

The Research Workshop adds value by producing project driven building histories

To promote building projects
To enhance selling opportunities
In support of planning applications
For assessing potential schemes
To unlock complicated title rights
To establish historical precedents
For discussion with heritage and conservation societies

The Research Workshop is run by Penny Olsen BA (Hons) MSc

Penny was born in London and after raising her family studied with the Open University and at the Bartlett, University College London. Her degrees led her into teaching Architectural and Design History at the London College of Fashion before identifying a need to provide historical profiles of buildings and setting up the Research Workshop in 1988. From the outset commissions involving archive research and building reports were plentiful. One particularly exciting project was the archive research for the popular BBC2 television series, 'The House Detectives', which investigated the histories of viewers homes.

Penny now lives in West Sussex producing authoritative house histories and building reports for private clients, solicitors, architects and property developers. Her reputation as a 'House Detective' has continued to grow over the years.