Clavering of Greencroft Manuscripts

Predominantly correspondence, ranging through national and local politics, the coaltrade, business and social affairs, family and domestic matters, news of London fashions and society, including detailed description of a 1749 firework display. Also includes small groups of election and estate papers, material on Lanchester church, deeds and documents in legal disputes, items on the 18th century Newcastle attorney Joshua Douglas (father-in-law of Sir Thomas Clavering, 7th Bart.), shipping papers.

Nos 458-479 (correspondence of the Archdeacon of Northumberland, Bishop of Durham, and Bishop's agent) are largely unconnected with the Claverings and may be strays from the Auckland Castle Archives.

Manuscripts, 17th-19th century but predominantly 18th century, of the Clavering family of Greencroft, near Lanchester, Co. Durham, including some material relating to the Axwell and Chopwell branches of the family and a little on 16th century Northumberland Claverings.

• 1-314: Correspondence, 1705-1857, largely between family members, including the Claverings' relatives, the Yorke family of Richmond, Yorkshire:
  • 1-211: Letters, 1705-1737, to Sir James Clavering (1680-1748), 6th Bart.
  • 212-293: Letters, 1739-1787, to George Clavering (1719-1794) of Greencroft.
  • 294-296: Letters, 1767-1768, to Sir Thomas Clavering (1718-1794), 7th Bart.
  • 297-305: Letters, 1767-1768, to Sir Thomas John Clavering (1771-1853), 8th Bart.
  • 306-314: Miscellaneous business letters, 1741-1857.
• 315-330: Election papers, 1681-1880
• 331-345: Lanchester Church, transcripts of 13th-17th century documents, and 18th-19th century notes
• 346-371: Estate papers, 17th-18th centuries
• 372-397: Greencroft evidences (transcripts and documents largely concerning Greencroft and the Lanchester area; nos 372-373 contain some information on other Clavering properties).
• 398-420: Deeds, documents in legal disputes, family settlements concerning properties outside the Lanchester area, 17th-18th century.
• 421-434: Accounts, bills, receipts, market notes, 1627-1813
• 435-455: Douglas family of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1710-1784
• 456-457: Shipping, 18th century
• 458-479: Correspondence etc. of the Archdeacon of Northumberland, the Bishop of Durham, and the Bishop's agent, 1721-1809
• 480-490: Miscellanea, 17th-19th century.

Open for consultation

Purchased 1946 from a student of the university who had bought them at a sale in the neighbourhood

Catalogue (outline list of nos 1-211, which have been printed in full, and detailed list of the remainder)

The much larger collection of Clayton & Gibson Papers in Durham County Record Office (D/CG7) includes a large quantity of Clavering deeds, documents in law suits, wills and family settlements, estate papers and court records.

A letterbook of Sir James Clavering is in Newcastle upon Tyne University Library.

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

Internal evidence suggests that the papers were at one time in the hands of George Neasham, the 19th century Durham historian.

Clayton & Gibson Papers include a little Clavering material.

Letter book of the Clavering family.