The first part of the material comprises deeds, papers, wayleaves, wills, opinions, court papers and plans, relating to the family, landed estates and coal and other business interests and connections of the Stuarts, Marquesses of Bute (including their inheritance from the Claverings of Axwell, Co. Durham), centring on Tanfield, Lanchester, Winlaton, Ryton and Whickham, Co. Durham but also mentioning other Bute property in England, Scotland, Wales (Glamorgan) and Ireland. These Bute papers span 1598-1896 and are mainly 18th and 19th century. They were listed while on loan to Durham County Record Office in 1983, to maintain the same system of reference in two groups of inter-related documents deposited in the two places.
Of the second batch of Clayton and Gibson material, mainly 18th and 19th century, eight boxes relate to St. Anthony's Estate and to Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne and Jarrow Grange Estate, Co. Durham and concern the Ellison and Bonner families among others and another nine boxes are Ellison family material and include wills, marriage settlements, deeds relating to Hebburn, Gateshead, a glass house there, the Brandling Junction Railway Co. and other business interests.