Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not…

Descriptions of the weather can be found in a wide variety of records held in the Record Office collections. In this blog, you can see examples from the past 350 years, ranging from impromptu remarks made in early diaries, travel journals and parish registers, through to the methodical, late-19th-century daily observations of lighthouse keepers and a 1920s sunshine recorder.… Read More Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not…

December 21, 2023December 20, 2023 northyorkscroLeave a comment

Sinnington and Marrick vestry minutes

This post explores the creation of Select Vestries using minute books from the parishes of Sinnington and Marrick to give examples of their work in relation to poor relief.… Read More Sinnington and Marrick vestry minutes

November 30, 2023November 2, 2023 northyorkscro1 Comment

Stapylton of Myton records: estate account books and rentals

An early-19th-century account book from the records of the Stapylton family of Myton Hall provides a fascinating insight into household expenditure from 1807-1814. In this blog, you can read about the types of payments that were being made for the running of the garden and stables, for food items such as fish and cheese, and other assorted purchases such as shaving soap, tobacco and hair cuts, as well as more unusual items including four goldfinches.… Read More Stapylton of Myton records: estate account books and rentals

November 9, 2023November 2, 2023 northyorkscroLeave a comment

Topcliffe Parish Records

The collection of records for the parish of Topcliffe is a particularly extensive and varied one. Parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials exist from 1570 onwards for the church of St Columba. This blog features many of the other types of records you might hope to find for a parish, which survive for Topcliffe but, in many cases, do not survive for parishes elsewhere. … Read More Topcliffe Parish Records

October 19, 2023October 20, 2023 northyorkscroLeave a comment

The papers of Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland

Estate records within our collections often contain fascinating details about the lives of family members, who travelled and worked overseas. In this blog, we take a look at the papers of Lawrence Dundas, which shed light on travels and his career in India between 1917 and 1940. … Read More The papers of Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland

September 29, 2023 northyorkscroLeave a comment

Medieval music: examples of manuscript fragments from our collections

Fragments of medieval music manuscripts have been found reused as the covers or linings of later books held in parish and estate collections here at the County Record Office. In this blog, you can find out more about the manuscripts themselves and the different types of notation and rubrics upon them.… Read More Medieval music: examples of manuscript fragments from our collections

August 31, 2023September 1, 2023 northyorkscroLeave a comment

Letters of John Jackson R.A.

Read the story of artist John Jackson R.A., told through a series of surviving letters written to his family, and see some of his early sketches. Born in the North Yorkshire village of Lastingham in 1778, originally intended to become a tailor, his talent was noticed by the Earl of Mulgrave. He went on to become a a successful portrait painter and skilful copyist.… Read More Letters of John Jackson R.A.

August 10, 2023July 12, 2023 northyorkscroLeave a comment

Wartime Harrogate

An interesting collection of records is held by the Record Office, which gives some idea of what life was like in Harrogate during the Second World War for an ordinary family… Read More Wartime Harrogate

July 20, 2023July 12, 2023 northyorkscroLeave a comment

The case of the fire at St Botolph’s church, Carlton-in-Cleveland in 1881

North Riding Quarter Sessions and other records help to shed light on the interesting tale of George Sanger, vicar of Carlton in Cleveland, accused of burning down the church in 1881.… Read More The case of the fire at St Botolph’s church, Carlton-in-Cleveland in 1881

June 29, 2023July 5, 2023 northyorkscro1 Comment

The building of Sion Hill, North Yorkshire: a late-Edwardian country house

Sion Hill was one of the latest country houses to be built in England at the beginning of the 20th century, designed by renowned York architect Walter H. Brierley and completed just before the outbreak of the First World War. Told through correspondence and plans within the Stancliffe family archive held at the County Record Office, read the fascinating story of the purchase of the Sion Hill Estate and the building of the new house for Percy and Ethel Stancliffe between 1911 and 1914.… Read More The building of Sion Hill, North Yorkshire: a late-Edwardian country house

June 3, 2023January 14, 2024 northyorkscro2 Comments

North Yorkshire Archives Blog

Welcome to our blog, sharing our collections, conservation and outreach

Category: Collections