Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

Has anyone been to the above? I've looked at the website and I'm hoping to visit the place on Friday but wondered if any of you can tell me what to expect.

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Mel

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Oooh! I've never been Mel, bet you have a good time. Will you let me know what it is like as my late Mum's family are from York and I get to York about 3 times a year, I did'nt know about this place so if it is any good I will give it a try myself.


Stephanie.

I'm not sure if we will go this week but it will certainly be this year!
I'm going to phone them I think. I looked at their 'first time users' page and got a little stumped...
"Do I have clear idea of what I want to find out? Try and focus your research questions before you come.
What type of records do you want to look at?"

I also read that documents are only issued at 9.45, 10.45, 11.45, 1.45, 2.45 and 3.45. It all seems a bit strict. I hope the staff are helpful
The first I heard of the place was at Wakefield when I enquired about pre-1858 wills in the Registry if Deeds. They did not have what I was hoping to find and told me that the only other place that might have the will is the Borthwick Institute.

I've no idea what records they hold there. As I said before, I have had a look at the website but as yet, I have not found anything resembling a catalogue.
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/bihr/

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Mel

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My boss has been there. I will have a natter with him later on. I will see if I can log on from work and let you know. Am in Yorkshire again this week attempting to get information out of Yorkshiremen. It's not only brass they don't like parting with!

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Making each day count

Thanks Julie, will be appreciated. What I hope to find will be of use to you.

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Mel

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I went to Wakefield today. They have an index of wills held at the Borthwick. Guess what I found
Email off to Borthwick in the morning to find out what to do with the entry I found!

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Mel

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What


Stephanie.

What?!!!

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at

HHmmmm the wonders of the younger generation, they expect us to read minds.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I found a pre-1858 entry for a will I have been hoping for, I wasn't sure that there would be one for this particular man but there is!!! I phoned Borthwick, they said to send them a letter with the details and a cheque for £5 and they'll send me a copy if they can find it. I'm hoping this is going to take me back another generation.

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Mel

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The will arrived this morning. Need to get my head around the detail now though but at a glance, it confirms one or two bits of research I had in a 'maybe' file.

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Mel

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Brilliant Mel.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I'm really chuffed. It doesn't actually take me any further back...yet. There is mention of various property that this Thomas Sutcliffe either owned or had some sort of stake in. My next query will be property records for Heptonstall, maybe these will help me? I'm not sure if these will be at the Registry of Deeds or elsewhere...where could elsewhere be?
I'll compile an email over the weekend to see if I can get anywhere with this and then talk my friend into another day at Wakefield (or wherever) some time soon.

What I am finding frustrating is that it would appear that this chap had some money but I cannot find a gravestone at Heptonstall. I can't get to all of them though. I suppose, after 200 years, the stone may no longer be standing.
Letter to the man in charge at the church I think!

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Mel

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I received this email a day or two ago. It may be of interest to someone?

This is to let you know about a new resource for your local history in your area

The Borthwick Institute at the University of York holds the records of the church courts in the north of England. These records have now been analysed and a searchable database created. The result is that a mass of information, from every parish in the north, can now be found very easily by local history researchers.

This searchable database is to be published online and there is to be an inaugural conference. The web site with all details of the project and the conference and an application form is at www.york.ac.uk/inst/bihr/projects/Mellon/cphome.htm If you have members who would be interested in the database or the conferece, perhaps you would pass this information on to them.

I do not have any other information yet, although I hope to learn a lot more at the conference and I will report on it in Local History News. If you have questions now, bihr500@york.ac.uk is the email address for inquiries, and there are other methods of contacting the Borthwick Institure listed on the web site.

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Mel

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The Borthwick Institute now have a much more accessible website

http://www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/

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Mel

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