Ancestors From Norfolk

The Norfolk Record Office collects and preserves records of historical significance for the county of Norfolk and makes them available to a wide range of people for consultation and study.

The Record Office is designated by the Master of the Rolls as a place of deposit for tithe and manorial documents and by the Lord Chancellor as a place of deposit for public records. The Norfolk Record Office also serves as the Diocesan Record Office for the Anglican diocese of Norwich including the deanery of Lothingland and as one of the Diocesan Record Offices in the Anglican Diocese of Ely in respect of the rural deaneries of Feltwell and Fincham. The King's Lynn Borough records are jointly administered at King's Lynn by the Record Office and the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

The Record Office cares for more than 11 million documents mainly in the form of papers, parchments, volumes, files, rolls and maps. Most are unique manuscripts (including drawings and typescripts): printed items and photographs are preserved only as integral parts of series of records.

The principal collections held within the Norfolk Record Office include:

• Records of local authorities and their predecessors: Norfolk County Council including Norfolk Quarter Sessions from the 16th century and the Poor Law Unions in Norfolk, the City of Norwich from the late 12th century, the Borough of Great Yarmouth from the 13th century, most District Councils in Norfolk, and many Parish and Town Councils.

• Public records relating to Norfolk, including probate records from the 14th to the 20th centuries, Coroners' records, records of hospitals (including the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, St Andrew's Hospital at Thorpe, and the Bethel Hospital in Norwich), Magistrates' Courts, the County Court, Drainage Boards and utilities including Anglian Water Authority and Eastern Electricity.

• Ecclesiastical records including Norwich Diocesan archives from the 13th century, Norwich Cathedral archives from the late 11th century, records of nearly 700 parish churches, records of the Society of Friends in Norfolk and Norwich, and from many Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, United Reformed, and other free churches and chapels.

• Estate and family records including Hobart of Blickling, Meade of Earsham Ketton-Cremer of Felbrigg, Bulwer of Heydon, Folkes of Hillington, Le Strange of Hunstanton, Wodehouse of Kimberley, White of Salle, de Grey of Merton and Hare of Stow Bardolph.

• Records of businesses, including Barnards, ironfounders of Norwich, Boardman and Company, architects, Fellows and Company, shipbuilders of Great Yarmouth, Kiltie Shoes of Norwich and Norvic Shoe Company, and of Societies and voluntary organisations.

• Antiquarian collections include those of Henry Bradfer Lawrence (d. 1965), Walter Rye (d. 1929) and of the Colman family, literary manuscripts include those of Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1859-1925) and Ralph Hale Mottram (1883-1971), and music and other manuscripts of Dr William Crotch (1775-1847) and musicological notes of Dr Arthur Henry Mann (1850-1929).

Most records received by the Record Office are transferred by its constituent authorities or deposited on long term loan. A smaller number are given or purchased. Some require assessment and weeding to ensure that records not of long term value are not preserved.

Records are mainly acquired:

• At the request of the owners, their heirs or administrators
• Following an enquiry from or survey by the Record Office
• As a result of legislative changes or directives such as the Parochial Registers and Records Measure, 1978 (amended 1993) and directions under the Public Records Acts
• By purchase from dealers or individuals.

To contact the Norfolk Record Office email norfrec.nro@norfolk.gov.uk

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