Description of Special Collection

Collection Level Description: British Records Association Deeds

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Collection name: British Records Association Deeds

Collection code: GB 033 BRA

Date range: 15th - 19th centuries

Extent: 5 metres

Language: English; Latin

Created by: British Records Association

Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections

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Contents:
This artificial collection consists mainly of small groups and sometimes single items, nearly all deeds, that relate to transactions and transferrals of property situated within Co. Durham. These have generally been in the custody of firms of solicitors, and once obsolete, have come into the possession of the British Records Association. The contents of many of these small deposits are entirely miscellaneous, the only unifying criterion being that the material relates mainly to Co. Durham.
About the creator:
The British Records Association was founded in 1932 to encourage and co-ordinate the discovery, preservation, study and publication of records, and to channel deposits to appropriate repositories. Over the years it has diverted several dozen deposits to the University of Durham (some to the University Library, some originally to the University's Department of Palaeography and Diplomatic, since 1990 part of the University Library's Archives and Special Collections department). Almost all of these deposits have been kept together in this artificial collection. Very occasionally a large body of connected material has been deposited which has been treated as a separate collection - see Related Units of Description).
Arrangement:
Arranged in order of BRA deposit number. Within each deposit material is usually sorted chronologically, but occasionally, where appropriate for larger groups, by property or subject.
Provenance:
The British Records Association, 18 Padbury Court, London E2 7EH. Most of these deposits were made before the foundation of Durham County Record Office.
Access:
Open for consultation.
Usage:
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.
Accruals:
More accessions are possible.
Catalogues:
There are lists of all of these collections; only 715, 1118, 1260, and 1297 have been indexed.
Overall online catalogue, available at http://endure.dur.ac.uk:8080/fedora/objects/UkDhU:EADCatalogue.0173/datastreams/XTF/content, containing links to more detailed catalogues of the larger groups.
Related collections held at Durham:
Backhouse Papers (deposited via BRA)
Chester Deanery Manorial Records (deposited via BRA)
Additional Manuscripts (includes further BRA material)

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Index terms

Deed collections and solicitors' accumulations.
Land tenure -- England -- Durham (County).

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Date last modified: 15 November 2008