Caernarfonshire County Council archive, Clerk's Department records

Records relating to Caernarfonshire County Council, Clerk's Department, 1833-1983, including Architect's Committee records, 1923-1975; employment records, 1922-1974; employment resignation records, 1914-1973; Parliamentary Committee records, 1894-1974; records relating to education, 1920-1973; legal records, 1843-1977; records relating to roads and bridges, 1904-1983; ambulance service records, 1944-1973; agricultural education records, 1917-1963; fire service records, 1947-1974; correspondence relating to county agriculture, 1935-1939; records relating to animal diseases, 1923-1968; records relating to World War Two evacuation, 1939-1941; health records, 1925-1974; Caernarvonshire Historical Society records, 1949-1970; county hospital records, 1937-1952; hospitals and sanatorium records, 1921-1955; records relating to rural housing, 1926-1965; Housing and Rural Water Supply Committee records, 1936-1964; financial records, 1920-1973; records relating to Gwynedd Police Authority, 1932-1968; Gwynedd River Board records, [c. 1930s]-1957; records relating to parliamentary elections, 1950-1959; records relating to livestock, 1921-1936; records relating to land drainage, 1921-1952; maternity and child welfare records, 1922-1974; local taxation records, 1922-1976; records relating to road safety, 1943-1973; Children's Committee records, 1949-1972; tithe records, 1923-1933; welfare records, 1948-1973; Mental Deficiency Committee records, 1913-1975; records relating to the Welsh Highland Railway, 1861-1947; public assistance records, 1929-1970; Shop Act Committee records, 1912-1974; Magistrates Court Committee records, 1932-1975; records relating to theatres and cinemas, 1921-1973; smallholdings and allotment records, 1892-1973; Standing Joint Committee records, 1833-1967; town planning records, 1932-1974; Welsh Church Fund records, 1944-1974; Selection Committee records, 1954-1973; National Park Committee records, 1950-1974; records relating to registration, 1939-1970; records relating to North Wales Regional Council for County Council Roadmen, 1941-1969; County Records Committee records, 1938-1982; Social Services Committee records, 1949-1973; Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire Joint Probation Committee records, 1944-1974; Weights and Measures Committee records, 1925-1974; and planning applications, 1948-1977.

Formed under the Local Government Act 1888, Caernarfonshire County Council took over many administrative duties of the Court of Quarter Sessions, such as responsibility for roads, bridges, county rates, county buildings, the police force, and licensing. In 1889, the administrative and welfare responsibilities were transferred to the first elected county council. Further responsibilities in secondary education, technical education and agriculture were added. The Clerk's Department was responsible for servicing committees within Caernarfonshire County Council and providing specialist functions such as legal and conveyancing work. In 1974, the county was combined with Anglesey, most of Merionethshire and parts of Denbighshire to become the county of Gwynedd.

Arranged into the following: Architect's Committee; establishment; Parliamentary Committee; education; sealed documents, orders, etc.; roads and bridges; establishment: resignations; Ambulance Committee; agricultural education; fire service; county agriculture; diseases of animals; evacuation; health; Caernarvonshire Historical Society; hospitals and sanitoria; rural housing; county hospital; Housing and Rural Water Supplies Committee; finance; Gwynedd Police Authority: housing and general; Gwynedd River Board; Parliamentary elections; livestock; land drainage; maternity and child welfare; local taxation; road safety; Children's Committee; tithes; welfare; Mental Deficiency Committee; Welsh Highland Railway; public assistance; Shops Act Committee; Magistrates Court Committee; stage plays; smallholdings and allotments; Standing Joint Committee; town planning; Welsh Church Fund; Selection Committee; National Park Committee; registration of births, marriages and deaths; North Wales Regional Council: County Council Roadmen; County records; Social Services Committee; Probation Service; Roads and bridges (Penmaenbach arbitration); Local Taxation Committee; weights and measures; and planning application appeals.

Records closed for 30 years after creation. Staff records closed for 50 years from last entry. Mental Deficiency Committee, Children's Committee, Social Services Committee, public assistance, maternity and welfare records containing personal medical or other confidential information are closed for 100 years after creation.

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used to compile this description: Caernarfon Record Office, Archifau Cyngor Sir Gaernarfon: Ffeiliau Adran y Clerc/ Caernarfonshire County Council Archives: Clerk's Department Files; Hey, David, Oxford Dictionary of Local and Family History, (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997)

Hard copies of the catalogue are available in Caernarfon Record Office and the National Library of Wales.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at Caernarfon Record Office have been retained.

The records were inherited by Gwynedd County Council in 1974 and were weeded. Records of minor importance were destroyed. Records relating to Caernarfonshire Lieutenancy and Quarter Sessions were originally part of this fonds, but have been moved to the records of the Lieutenancy and the Quarter Sessions.

Accruals are not expected

Related records are Caernarfon Record Office, XL1, XQS.