Welsh Journals

Repairs Taking care of deeds and documents is almost as important as collecting them. The vast accummulation of plans deposited with the Clerk of the Peace in the 18th and 10th centuries were almost all in bad state when handed over and many of the Quarter Sessions records required immediate attention. Some of the Enclosure awards and their maps had been so used and misused that occasionally they were almost beyond repair. Even more, deeds and plans and maps in private collections deposited here can only be preserved for future generations of historical research-workers by giving them expert treatment. The cost of sending out repairs to commercial firms and the slowness of the work done in this way forced the County Records Committee to decide to open a repair department here in Hawarden. This was one of the most important developments in the year. Miss Mary Darlington was sent to Chester, where she was train d by the kindness of the City Archivist, Miss Helen Boulton, and after this preliminary course spent some time at the Public Record Office in London, till she had fully qualified as an expert repairer. A repair-room was opened at the County Record Office and fully equipped, and in 1960 Miss Darlington began to work on the County Records. Since then the usefulness of her work has been often proved. One reason why owners should deposit their archives in the Record Office is that now they can be expertly tended and repaired. Search-room: A pleasant room is open at Hawarden each working day where students of records and anybody at work on the history of the district can do research. Visitors have come from many parts of Britain and the U.S.A. and one or two of the Grammar School sixth forms have undertaken regular schemes of research. The searchroom has a microfilm reader and a small library of reference books. In building up the library the Committee aims at having immediately available on the shelves for research every book, pamphlet, print, map relating to Flintshire, as well as the in- dispensable standard history-books and guides to students. It is still felt that people often throw away too lightly much that the Record Office would like to have. In addition to standard works of history and sets or odd numbers of learned periodicals and the transactions of local societies the Committee are trying often with difficulty to collect census returns, Poor Law reports, the printed minutes of the County Council and local councils, bluebooks and government reports printing valuable statistical information, old directories, local pamphlets. Donations of material of this sort are always appreciated. The photograph collection, which is growing steadily, is also housed in the searchroom. There as well are available the catalogues, schedules and calendars of the deeds and documents kept in the strongrooms. The expert historian and the local amateur are always welcome to spend as many hours or days as they wish in this room which is dedicated for their use. It is only necessary to sign the Visitor's Book and fill in a form for anything wanted. Acknowledgments The Record Office is dependent upon the generosity and public spirit of depositors and donors and gratitude is due to the many people who have helped during the year. It is a great work for this generation to build up a collection of historical documents large enough to help research. Among the few who can be mentioned here as especially deserving thanks for their gifts and deposits in 1960 are The Rt. Hon. Lord Mostyn, The Rt. Hon. Lord Kenyon, Mr. T. T. Pennant-Williams, F.S.A., Mr. Cyril Bottomley of Prestatyn and Miss Lowrie, Mr. Bunker of Guildford, Mr. Henry C. Butler of Hawarden, Mrs. R. E. Davies of Prestatyn, Mrs. Roger Edwards, Dr. D. J. Fraser, the late Mrs. Trevor Eyton of Ty Gwyn, Mr. C. H. Goodman of Lloc, Mr. R. D. Harrison of Rhyl, Mrs. Sunter Harrison ofWrexham, Mr. R. B. Heaton, F.R.I.B.A., Mr. G. H. Hughes of Saltney Ferry, Mr. J. W. Hughes of Ellesmere Port, Mr. H. W. Humberstone of Prestatyn, Mr. Hector Jones of Hawarden, Mr. G. Milo Jones and the Director of Education, Mr. Ffrangcon Lloyd, L.R.I.B.A. of Rhyl, Mr. George Lloyd of Shotton, Mr. T. Lloyd-Jones of Aigburth, Mr. Vincent McCormick of Flint, Miss E. Price of Connah's Quay, Mr. W. J. Roberts of Llandudno, Mr. W. H. E. Roberts of Mold, Miss M. E. Rowlands of Mold, Mr. A. Sandbach of Penyffordd, Mr. Shortle of Rhyl, Mr. S. Shallcroft of Hawarden, The Rev. Fr. Julian Stonor,