Records of the chancellor and council of the Duchy of Lancaster, concerned principally with the administration of the Duchy estate throughout England and Wales and the safeguarding of Duchy privileges and rights.
Also, records of the Court of Duchy Chamber, consisting mainly of equity proceedings.
The following series numbers have not been used: DL 2, DL 11, DL 18, DL 19, DL 22, DL 33.
The most significant series of documents created by the central administration of the Duchy is in DL 42, the records of which are very varied in character.
Another series of miscellaneous administrative records, important for an understanding of the history of the Duchy, is in DL 41
The varied enrolments of the Duchy Chancery are in DL 37, and other documents relating to the day to day administration of the estate are in DL 34
Evidences of title relating to the several estates of the Duchy can be found among the charters in DL 10 and the deeds in DL 25-27 and DL 36
The administration and exploitation of these lands was facilitated by the variety of accounts surrendered by Duchy officials in DL 28 and DL 29, and by the court rolls in DL 30
Accounting officials of the Duchy were required to enter into bonds of obligation, found in DL 24; debts were collected by means of the writs in DL 23
The appointment of particular officials was recorded in DL 20, DL 21 and DL 51
Grants of office, as well as land, were authorised by means of the documents in DL 12 and DL 13, and grants of ecclesiastical livings by those in DL 16
Surveys of the extent and value of some of the Duchy's lands and tenants are in DL 43, with commissions to investigate matters relating to the properties of the estate in DL 44. Maps and plans relating to the latter are in DL 31
Other enquiries into the possessions of the Duchy were facilitated by the documents in DL 17
Further surveys, compiled in the wake of the Dissolution (1530s), the Commonwealth (1648-1660), and the enclosure movement (eighteenth and nineteenth century), can be found in DL 32, DL 38 and DL 45
Records relating to the leasing of Duchy land can be found in DL 14, DL 15 and of the Hospital of Savoy in DL 47
Court records of both the Duchy and the Palatinate are to be sought in DL 35 and DL 50, with those relating to the forest in DL 39, and coroners' inquests in DL 46
Finally, documents concerned with the feudal rights of the Duchy can be found in DL 7 and DL 40
The National Archives
No items
