Catalogue description Records of the Land Branch

The Board of Ordnance dealt with military lands matters until its abolition in 1855, when they became the responsibility of the Department of the Inspector General of Fortifications within the War Office. In 1908 responsibility passed to a new Lands Branch, which was part of the Department of the Parliamentary Under secretary (or civil member) until 1945, when it moved to the Department of the Permanent Under Secretary.

The Lands Branch was responsible for the administration of lands belonging to or in the charge of the War Office, apart from purely legal aspects, e.g.. conveyancing. This included inspection, technical advice and valuations; the administrative aspects of leasing, purchasing and selling; rates, taxes and tithes; the preparation of byelaws for rifle ranges, artillery ranges and camps; claims in respect of damage to roads, bridges and adjoining property; and the custody of property statements and records. The branch acted on lands matters for the Ministry of Munitions between 1917 and 1920 and for the Air Ministry between 1918 and 1930.

The branch was known as the Directorate of Lands between 1917 and 1933, the title of its head during those years changing from comptroller or controller to director-general (1917-1923) and director (1923-1933). In 1948 it was amalgamated with the Claims Commission under a comptroller of lands and claims. It gained additional functions relating to the acquisition and alienation of land from the Quartermaster General's Department in 1958 and 1960. From 1963 the controller was responsible for the Works Secretariat Branch, set up to liaise with the new Ministry of Public Buildings and Works in connection with major new works.