Catalogue of the documents in the Weardale Chest

Reference code: GB-0033-WEC
Title: Weardale Chest
Dates of creation: 1377-17th century
Extent: 1 metre
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Origination: legal records of property disputed during the Commonwealth in Weardale, Co. Durham.
Language: English

The Chest

The chest is of oak, 1"-2½" thick. It is ironbound in two directions, with a heavy lid resting on five hinges along the back. The lid was once covered with leather, perhaps decoratively stamped, which now survives only under the iron bindings. The chest is 3′ 6″ long, 2′ high and 1′ 10″ wide including the heavy overfitting lid. At each end is an iron handle about 9" long. The keys are missing. The chest was relined with paper, (probably in the eighteenth century) over the existing wood and canvas lining. It is in good condition for its age.
(Description from article cited below
Drawing of the chest

The documents relate to the Forest of Weardale & Stanhope Park in the parish of Stanhope, Co. Durham, parcel of the Bishop of Durham's manor of Wolsingham. They comprise evidence for a series of law suits concerning tenant right etc. between the tenants of Weardale and Sir Arthur Hesilrige who purchased the manor of Wolsingham in the Civil War, on confiscation from the Bishop. The original documents date from c.1579-c.1660 but there are sixteenth and seventeenth century copies of many earlier items from 1377. They include leases, conveyances, agreements, Forest Court papers and miscellanea.

Accession details

This sixteenth century chest of documents was deposited in 1953 from Weardale, where it had been preserved for several centuries, by arrangement with J. Conway Davies, then Reader in Palaeography & Diplomatic at Durham University.
The chest had been guarded on behalf of the Weardale community by the occupier for the time being of Warden Hill farm and had been opened only when several key holders came together.

Related material (internal)

Church Commission Bishopric deposit Parliamentary survey of Manor of Wolsingham.
Mickleton and Spearman mss. No. 100 contains depositions of witnesses in the case Geo. Harrison & others v. Sir Arthur Haslerigg regarding Stanhope Park and Weardale Forest.

Bibliography

“Sir Arthur Hesilrige and the Weardale chest”, J. Linda Drury, Transactions of the Architectural and Archaelogical Society of Durham and Northumberland n.s. 5 (1980), 125-37.

Weardale Chest Handlist

I Leases, Agreements and Conveyances (mainly copies), and papers relating to the same

WEC.1
Language: Latin
Copies and summaries of leases of land in Weardale by Bishops of Durham, up to 1511.
Including:

Inspeximus by Thomas (Hatfield [?]) of lease to Dame Alice Nevill of Brancepeth dated the eve of St. Helen 1373. 24 July 2 pont. (sic. 32 pont.[1377]?).

Lease by William Dudley to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 2 May 3 pont. (1479).

Commission by Thomas Ruthall for a survey of the forest of Weardale and Stanhope Park. 1 March 2 pont. (1511).

Paper 21ff.
Digitised material for WEC.1 - Copies and summaries of leases of land in Weardale by Bishops of Durham, up to 1511

WEC.2 8 March 30 Hen. VIII (1539)
(Copy) Agreement between Christofer and Matthew Herrison, both of Swinhopeburne, yeomen, to divide the farmhold of Swinhopeburne equally between them.
Paper 1f.
Digitised material for WEC.2 - Agreement between Christofer and Matthew Herrison, to divide the farmhold of Swinhopeburne

WEC.3
Memorandum of the lease of 13 messuages by Richard Barnes, Bishop of Durham to the Queen, 17 January 27 Eliz. (1585); and of the assignment of the said lease to John Stanhope 30 August 27 Eliz. (1585).
Paper 2ff.
Digitised material for WEC.3 - Memorandum of the lease of 13 messuages by Richard Barnes, Bishop of Durham to the Queen, 17 January 27 Eliz. 1585

WEC.4 20 June 35 Eliz. (1593)
(Copy) Bargain and Sale of the whole tenement (divided into two moieties) of Whestnopborne in Stanhope Park by Ann Nevell of Whestnopborne, widow of Arthur Nevell, to Edward Dalivell, also of Whestnopborne, gent.
Consideration not stated.
Paper 1f.
Digitised material for WEC.4 - Bargain and Sale of the whole tenement of Whestnopborne in Stanhope Park by Ann Nevell to Edward Dalivell

WEC.5 13 July 1603
Release by Alice Harrison of London, widow, to William Harrison of Swynopborne, Co. Durham, yeoman, of a messuage in Swynopborne.
Mark and seal of Alice Harrison.
Paper 2ff.
Digitised material for WEC.5 - Release by Alice Harrison of London, widow, to William Harrison of a messuage in Swynopborne.

WEC.6 22 September 1616
Schedule of writings relating to the reconveyance on 22 July 1616 of Pinfold House to William Stobbs to the use of himself, Nicholas Sheall, William Stobbs of Westyeate, and John Gibson.
Paper 2ff.
Digitised material for WEC.6 - Reconveyance on 22 July 1616 of Pinfold House to William Stobbs and others

WEC.7 - 33:
Bundle containing copies of Leases 1594-1637:
All bear the endorsement: Memorandum that the document was shown to witnesses in the case of George Harrison v. Sir Arthur Haslerigg, 13 September 1655.

WEC.7 13 November 36 Eliz. (1594)

(1) Mathew (Hutton), Bishop of Durham

(2) George Emerson, Edward Emerson and Thomas Emerson, sons of George Emerson and of the'ast yeate in Stanhopp Parke

Certified copy of lease by (1) to (2) of a messuage called Th'east yeate in Werdaile and a piece of ground called the High of the Parke.
Term: the lives of (2).
Rents: £7. 6s. 8d. and £3. 6s. 8d. for the messuage and ground respectively.
Paper 6ff.
Digitised material for WEC.7 - Certified copy of lease of a messuage called Th'east yeate in Werdaile and a piece of ground called the High of the Parke.

WEC.8 21 January 40 Eliz. (1598)