Top 10 Archives… No.5

1st December 2011

Messrs. Marcy, Hemmingway & Sons of Bewdley.

This is a collection of over 155,000 solicitors’ papers that date from the 14th to the 20th century and cover the whole of Worcestershire. On the face of it this may seem quite stuffy, but it actually contains an Aladdin’s cave of information about property and families in Worcestershire and is used for all types of research.

From apprenticeships, marriage settlements and wills to dog, carriage and servants’ licences. The collection also includes turnpike gate toll accounts books, for such places as Dunley Scar Gate and Tinker’s Gate; accounts of the Queen’s own Worcestershire Hussars and Yeomanry and plans of watercourses, properties, farms and estates. It is easy to see why this is such a popular collection as the research opportunities are endless.

Come back soon to find out what is at number four!

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