ACTIVITIES

The Club actively engages in the following activities:

promoting research into subjects related to its aims, and publishing it. acting as a co-ordinating body and co-operating with various voluntary and professional bodies sharing its aims. encouraging the propagation and accessibility of documents concerning the history of the area. undertaking surveys and making maps, plans and drawings of sites and areas of historic interest. holding meetings, lectures and displays to inform the public about local history. allying itself with various other organisations to promote the cause of Local History in the area. encouraging the teaching of Local History in schools and other places of learning. monitoring planning applications with a historic content.

PROJECTS

Working Groups

In 2007, the Society completed a three year LHI-funded project studying the landscape history of the north-west quadrant of the county town by combining all appropriate methods. A digital PDF version of the lavishly illustrated 185 page project report is available upon request for £10.00. The four main features described in this study are the Bishop's Palace site, the Castle Hills earthwork, All Saints Parish Church and the Anchorage Lane tannery site.

Continued interest by members of the Group has led to the formation of several working groups which meet every Friday at the County Record Office between the hours of 9.00 am and 4.15 pm. They are open to members of the public interested in undertaking Local History Research. There is an admission charge of £2.00 per day to cover the cost of the accommodation.

A similar group meet every Wednesday evening at the County Record Office, currently translating various Latin records.

Most of the current groups are conducting research into the history of Northallerton but others are interested in the surrounding villages. The structure is free format so that members can undertake individual research or work with others on common topics. The expertise and resources of the group are available without charge to all participants and people new to documentary research are most welcome.

If you would like to join a group please contact Dot Edwards on 01609 778947 or e-mail daandrmedwards@gmail.com

Projects Past & Present

Community Archive

The society has computer facilities to build a collection of local documents, especially photographs and illustrations of the town and district with accompanying narratives. Have you any we could copy? Can you help with the computerisation of this data?

Historic Buildings and Sites

Attempts are made to preserve and protect old buildings and sites. Part of this process is the review of planning applications on a regular basis - would you like to help with this?

Population Studies

Extensive work has (and is) being done by committee members on the transcription and digitisation of census and birth, marriage & death records.

Property Records

Northallerton entries in the North Riding Register of Deeds are being digitised to produce an online index.

Distinguished Families

All locally held records pertaining to the Lascelles family, which came from Northallerton, have been digitised and supplied to the Harewood House Archivist at his request. Other local families such as the Smithsons (now Dukes of Northumberland) need researching.

Latin Group

A group of enthusiasts is working on Northallerton's manuscript Latin court rolls to make the images, transcripts and translations available online.

Quarter Sessions and Coroners' Records

Assistance is being provided to the Record Office to digitise these records.

Probate Records

Members participated in a Durham university project digitising the probate records of the Bishop of Durham, who was also Lord of the Manor of Northallerton. As a result, the Society now has a database of all Allertonshire's records and transcripts of all Northallerton wills 1660-1845 which were proved at the Bishop's Courts.

Northallerton High Street

Over the years, groups and individuals have researched and recorded changes to the buildings and yards lining the county town's essentially Georgian main street. This is an ongoing process and the Society also holds an extensive archive of urban photographs.

Kiplin Hall

This is an unusual Jacobean stately house 8 miles west of town built by the Lords Baltimore who founded the state of Maryland. Members are transcribing documents in its extensive archive.