Rural Development Commission

Contains: Reports of Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas 1975-1979; booklet - A step by step guide to planning permission for small businesses 1986; a policy note concerning The conversion of redundant buildings 1982; bulletins and papers issued by Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas 1980, 1987; news release Former Humberside farm hosts Middle East Royal families 1991; interviews of T Tucker 1991; negatives and contact cards of the Rural Development Commission c1950-1990; photographs, negatives, slides and transparencies featuring wrought iron, exhibitions, staff and premises; notes for conferences, talks and events 1986-1987; photocopy of pages from publication Edward Barnsley and his workshop: arts and crafts in the twentieth century by Annette Carruthers 1972

In 1998 the Development Commission (DC) merged with its main agency, the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas (CoSIRA) to form the Rural Development Commission (RDC). Both bodies had a fairly long history: Commissioners were first appointed to oversee the Development Fund in 1909, while CoSIRA was established in 1968. It was an amalgamation of the Rural Industries Bureau (RIB, established 1921), the Rural Industries Loan Fund (RILF, established 1940), and the Rural Industries Organisers (part of the Rural Community Councils).

The Commission advises the Government on matters relating to the economic and social development of rural areas in England. In order to further such development, it has wide powers to give financial assistance, and to acquire land, property and premises.

AD Administrative and Commercial Records

AD2/1-2 General administrative records (reports)

P Publications, promotions and Advertising Records

P2/B1-2 Servicing publications (other than RDC)

P4/A1-4 Technical bulletins

P5/1 News release

P6/1-5 Sound recordings

PH Internal Photographic Records

PH1/1-10 Photographic Negatives

PH2/1-14 Compilations of photographic prints

PH3/1-36 Photographic prints

PH4/1-3 Registers and indexes of photographs

PH5/1-11 SLides and transparencies

SP Social and Personal Records

SP2.1-3 Records of events, societies and organizations

SP4/1 Personal records

Open for consultation

Accession number DX397

Compiled by Caroline Gould, 19 December 2002

A detailed catalogue is available at the Museum of English Rural Life

Please contact the Archivist

See also D DX121 History of CoSIRA (1909-1979) and D DX338 Rural Industries Bureau (photographs, 1930's)held at the Museum of English Rural Life