The Record Office holds an extensive documentary archive relating to the North Riding Quarter Sessions, covering a period of just over 300 years from 1660 to 1971. This blog looks at the history and role of Quarter Sessions and the officials who attended. Future blogs will feature examples of surviving records.… Read More All Human Life: North Riding Quarter Sessions, 1660-1971
This blog coincides with our latest exhibition showcasing a selection of Quaker records, to mark the 400th anniversary of the birth of George Fox (1624-1691). Read about the wide-ranging records we hold for Guisborough and Richmond Monthly Meetings, spanning over 350 years, back to the 17th century.… Read More Quaker Records Unveiled: Exploring hidden stories of resilience and faith in North Yorkshire
The Cholmeley of Brandsby archive contains material dating from the 12th to 20th century. A recent project to convert entries from our paper lists into our online catalogue has resulted in over 6000 new records being added to the database, all of which can be freely searched online. This blog provides a brief background to the archive and features some collection highlights.… Read More The Cholmeley of Brandsby archive
The Record Office holds a large number of historic maps and plans, which can be found in a variety of collections. This post looks at a range of maps and plans of Easingwold, dating from the late-18th to the early-20th century.… Read More Easingwold: historic maps and plans
Yorkshire gentlewoman, Alice Thornton, née Wandesford (1626-1707), lived in North Yorkshire for much of her life. This collaborative blog with the ‘Alice Thornton’s Books’ project traces her life from baptism to burial through a series of 17th- and 18th-century documents held in Record Office collections.… Read More The life and times of Alice Thornton: an archive exploration
Described in 1913 as ‘probably the most novel golf course in England’, Goathland Golf Club was located on common land very close to Goathland village. Using archive material held at the Record Office, read about the history of the Club from 1894-1948.… Read More Goathland Golf Club, 1894-1948
Illustrated with maps, plans and historic photographs, this post looks at the history of the piers and harbour in Whitby. Particular focus is given to alterations and improvements that were made in the 19th century using records and reports held in the Record Office collections. … Read More Whitby piers and harbour from 1781-1906
This second and concluding instalment of Crompton and Blane’s travels in Sicily follows them on the latter half of their journey down the east coast. From their daily journal entries, we can share their experiences of an exhausting climb of Mount Etna to view the crater of the volcano and their tour of Syracuse to see the ancient sites, including the remains of Greek temples and the Greek theatre. … Read More Joshua Crompton’s travels through Sicily, 1825 – Part 2: Nicolosi to Syracuse
In this first of a two-part series, using contemporary journal extracts, we follow Joshua Samuel Crompton and his travel companion William Blane on their journey down the east coast of Sicily in February 1825. Their ultimate destination was Malta, but en route they visited the ancient Greek and Roman sites of Catania and Taormina.… Read More Joshua Crompton’s travels through Sicily, 1825 – Part 1: Naples to Catania
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…
North Yorkshire Archives Blog 