The collection contains a number of accounts. These relate mainly to estates in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire but personal and household accounts are also present, as are some 17th century accounts reflecting the family's mercantile interests.
There are a large number of deeds dating from the 12th century to 1837, whilst manorial records for the manor of Tickhill, Yorkshire from c.1600 to 1715 are also included in the collection.
Much of the collection consists of correspondence which relates primarily to estate matters but also to business interests, family and social events and political issues. Of particular significance is a series of letters to Charles Mellish (1737-1797) which relate to the American War of Independence and include letters from General Henry Clinton.
The family's business and travel interests are reflected not only in the correspondence series but also in an interesting group of journals and travel diaries and in a series of miscellaneous papers.
Surveys, legal, printed and antiquarian papers are also present in the Collection, as is the 15th Century 'Rushall Psalter'.