Do you ever sit in your living room at night and wonder who was there before you? KERRY ANN EUSTICE talks to a lady who found out and gets some advice on where you start

With a new-build property, there is just one name on the deeds. It is a blank canvas, waiting to absorb the imprints of its owners. Yet older properties come with a past as detailed as the people who own them.

Have you often wondered how many families have lived in your home? If your walls could speak, what would they say? Jean Brown from Dartford is a woman who has asked herself these questions.

She has embarked on a search to trace the genealogy of her home, Priory Ward and map its former owners.

Jean's interest first began when she found out her home dated back to 1896 and after reading Julie Myerson's book, Home: The Story of Everyone Who Ever Lived in Our House.

Jean is also studying Family and Community History in the 19th and 20th Centuries, for her degree BA Hons Humanities at the University of Greenwich. Her genealogy search is part of a project she is doing as part of this module.

Jean said: "I first had to consult the census. There is restricted access to such documents and I could only look at the 1901 census.

This was a problem in itself, as the writing was all in copper plate and often hard to deduce.

"I found the house was first owned and built by Joseph Mahershalalhashbaz Parker, who hailed from Manchester and moved to Dartford."

A librarian suggested Jean inspect the electoral register from Dartford Council which holds records dating from 1960 onwards but to go further back she had to go to the county archives in Maidstone. Here the records are extensive.

Jean was able to track down quite a few names matching her address, Including Singh, Balbir, Chattenton, Suter, Higham, Rofe, names which she added to Parker and Evans.

The registers and the census are not the only places with keys to the past. Jean learnt a great deal from people living in her area.

She said: "I have found out from primary sources how the house withstood bombings in the Second World War. There is information everywhere I turn."

Even her front door was a source. She said: "Our front door is large and is detailed with stained glass.

"There is a name inscribed upon it Cicely. I discovered this was the first name of Joseph Parker's wife.

"The research can take many twists and turns. If anyone would like to find out about their own home I'd advise them to first find out its age, which can usually be told from the home's architecture and construction methods.

"The Kent Heritage Centre has a document called your house and how to trace its history, which is very useful. I feel I have a much stronger connection with the house now I know more about it."

Jean's research into her home continues and she is appealing for any more information.

If you know anything about the names she has traced or about the property which has been known as Priory Ward, Gundulph Ward and West Ward, email her on bj558@gre.ac.uk