Smith Roddam (solicitors) records

Part 1 (2 boxes) consists of deeds relating to properties in Bishop Auckland, 18th-20th centuries. These properties had been purchased by Smith Roddam and the modern deeds relating to them have been retained by the practice.

Part 2 (14 boxes) consists of documents accumulated by Smith Roddam and their predecessor practices. The bulk of them consist of deeds and some wills, which are no longer required by the solicitors in order to prove title but which are of historical interest. Most of the deeds relate to Co. Durham, in particular to the Bishop Auckland region and to various estates in Wolsingham parish. The deeds have been provisionally arranged and boxed by county, and within each county alphabetically by place (see summary box list below), but they have not yet been fully sorted.

The firm of Smith Roddam, solicitors of 56 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, and also based at Shildon and Crook, Co. Durham (formerly known as Smith, Roddam & Co. and as Smith, Roddam) was formed in ca. 1967-1968 following an amalgamation between the firms of Trotter, Bruce & Loft, and Proud, Robinson & Roddam (the senior partner of the former firm was called Smith).

Trotter, Bruce & Loft were in practice at North Bondgate (subsequently described as 56 North Bondgate), Bishop Auckland from at least 1902 until ca. 1967/8. In the 1950s they joined with Proud, Robinson & Roddam but the two firms kept their separate names. A nineteenth century predecessor practice of Trotter, Bruce & Loft which features in the collection was Trotter, Bruce & Trotter of North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland.

Part I is arranged in the following deed packets: 

• Box 1, bundle 1: Properties in the Market Place, Bishop Auckland (including the Angel Inn)
• Box 1, bundle 2: 18 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland
• Box 2, bundle 1: 15 and 16 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland
• Box 2, bundle 2: 17 and 18 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland
• Box 2, bundle 3: 19 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland

Part 2 is arranged in the following boxes: 

• Box 3: County Durham deeds - Auckland St Helen
• Box 4: County Durham deeds - Bishop Auckland and Bondgate in Auckland (including Close House Farm)
• Box 5: County Durham deeds - Bolam, Boldon and West Boldon, Byers Green, Coundon and Coundon Grange, Crook, Sunniside and Tudhoe Grange, Darlington, Durham, Evenwood and Barony of Evenwood, Ferryhill
• Box 6: County Durham deeds - Gateshead, Haughton-le-Skerne, Hedleyhope, Hedworth and Boldon, Heighington and Redworth, Hurworth on Tees
• Box 7: County Durham deeds - Lynesack and Softley, Middridge, Middleton in Teesdale, New Shildon, Sedgefield
• Box 8: County Durham deeds - Shildon, Tofthill in Auckland St Andrew (chiefly Haughton Close), West Auckland
• Box 9-11: County Durham deeds - Wolsingham
• Box 12: Westmorland deeds - Kirkby Lonsdale
• Box 13-14: Yorkshire deeds
• Box 15: Bruce family deeds, including some papers of Trotter, Bruce and Trotter (solicitors), and printed poster for auction sale in Bishop Auckland Town Hall, 1892
• Box 16: Letters of orders for two Church of England clergy, ordained at Durham and York, 1748-1754

Until the arrangement of the collection has been finalised, and its contents listed, these documents may only be consulted by prior arrangement.

Part 1 Deposited with the Department of Palaeography and Diplomatic of the University of Durham (since 1990 part of the Archives and Special Collections department of Durham University Library) on 16 July 1987 by Smith, Roddam, solicitors, of 56 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham through Mr A.N. Fairclough, a partner in the practice.

Part 2 Donated on 23 August 1994 by Smith, Roddam, solicitors, of 56 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham through Mrs. K. Hussey.

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of 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.