Catalogue description Lord Steward's Department: Accounts of Creditors Not Paid by Salary

These are entry books of the monthly bills of all creditors not paid by salary and contain the Extraordinary expenses which required special warrants. Up to 1761 (LS 8/1-99) the creditors are arranged by office of the Lord Steward's Department, ie kitchen, bakery, scullery, poultry, pantry, woodyard etc. The only exception to this is the stables which are not included.

It should be noted that the wardrobe, however, is included, although this came under the control of the Lord chamberlain's Department. The person craving payment is noted; for what product or service; and the amount requested. Totals per office, per month are given, and also totals by quarter.

In 1761, as part of the general reforms, the creditors' account was divided into three sections - household, kitchen and incidental, with one piece per section, per year. As before, the person seeking payment; for what; and amount are given, but no longer the office.

The entries are given in a good deal of detail as to precisely what commodity or service has been provided. Totals are given by month and type of provision. Examples under the household heading are bread, beer, salt, wax lights, washing, dairy produce, coals, wood. Under the kitchen heading appear bread, wines, fish, meat, pastry, butter, vinegar, herbs etc. The incidentals cover services, such as those of the brazier, pewterer, turner, linen-draper, caretaker and stationer.

The incidentals include extraordinary expeditions and visits, such as those of the Prince and Princess of Brunswick in 1764 (LS 8/111). These will also include items more usually found in a household or kitchen creditor. In the later creditors the accounts are divided by palace or residence. Kitchen creditors were made up from monthly mensils. There are separate creditors for Hampton Court, for 1795 to 1799.

In 1816 the system changed again and the creditors were no longer divided into sections. After a period of variation as to both period covered and monthly or quarterly accounting, between 1816 and 1820, the system is again established of a volume per year, arranged by quarters.

The bills were tendered usually for the quarter or a specific month, presumably as suited the tradesman. From 1816 the items entered are numbered. The date is then given, followed by the name of the creditor; the amount; and the provision or service, much the same as in earlier pieces. These are, in appearance, more like invoice books, with a full copy of each tradesman's bill or creditor.

They are organised according to palace or residence. At the end there is a section of sundries and disbursements, which were paid in cash by the treasurer of the Board of Green Cloth. These include various allowances, and salaries to extra servants. Creditors for special occasions, royal visits and visitors, and some minor royal households can be found in LS 8/315-321 (1814-1828).

A "contents table" to LS 8 is in

LS 7