Catalogue description Office of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues: Isle of Man (and Channel Islands) Entry Books of Out Letters and Treasury Report Books

This series contains two series of records of the Office of the Commissioners of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues concerning Crown lands principally in the Isle of Man: entry books of out letters (1851 to 1901) and Treasury report books (1894 to 1913).

The entry books of out letters contain the texts of all letters despatched, bound in chronological order. The letters concern a wide range of subjects, from accounts arrears to opinions on proposed legislation.

The books form two distinct groups. The first comprises CRES 11/1 and 2 (containing the text of out letters dated October 1851 to July 1861). Both these volumes include correspondence relating to Alderney and a few other references to the Channel Islands, although most of the contents relate to the Isle of Man. In addition Cres 11/2 contains the texts of a few letters relating to Ireland.

The second group, CRES 11/3-20, relates exclusively to the Isle of Man, and contains the text of out letters dated April 1860 to August 1901. These volumes were originally numbered on the spine 1-18.

The two Treasury report books, CRES 11/21 and 22, contain few, if any, plans (there are none in the entry books of out letters). The texts of the related Treasury letters, minutes and warrants are included, however. All the papers are entered in the volumes in chronological order. The reports to the Treasury are on a wide range of subjects including the granting of leases, the granting of licences to lay pipe lines, the marking of boundaries, expenses for new bore holes, the fencing or filling up of mine shafts, reductions in rent, contributions towards the building or repair of churches or lifeboat houses, etc, and local establishment matters, including the salary of the Crown receiver and seneschal of the Isle of Man.

Office of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues, 1851-1924