Catalogue description Exchequer: King's Remembrancer: Miscellanea relating to the Dissolution of the Monasteries and to the General Surveyors (formerly State Papers Henry VIII Suppression Papers)

A diverse collection of papers and accounts from the Ancient Miscellanea of the King's Remembrancer of the Exchequer, many of which were connected with the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s. The series was formerly known as Suppression Papers.

The majority are the papers of the various sets of commissioners sent out to dissolve the religious houses. The series also includes records from the Court of Augmentations for the sale or lease of lands after the dissolution, as well as rough accounts from the Land Revenue Auditors of the Exchequer, drawn up in the 1560s. Unconnected with the suppression are a long series of acquittances for payment of rent by farmers of St Alban's abbey from the 1520s (during the period it was held in commendam by Cardinal Wolsey), and a number of original leases of Crown (not monastic) land by the General Surveyors between 1517 and 1542.

Almost all of the documents date from the reign of Henry VIII, but there are also a number of late sixteenth century copies of earlier ministers accounts as well as some rough accounts prepared by Exchequer land revenue auditors or receivers, probably in the 1560s.

Since the records were originally listed in the mid-nineteenth century, many have been removed to other series, particularly SC 6

Court of Augmentations, 1536-1547

Court of General Surveyors, 1542-1547

Exchequer, Kings Remembrancer, 1150-1875

Exchequer, Office of the Auditors of Land Revenue, 1554-1832

The records are calendared in part in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII, ed. J S Brewer, J Gairdner and R H Brodie (London, 1862-1932).

A key to Suppression Papers (new references) is available. Please speak to staff at the Map and Large Document Room enquiry desk for the precise location.