Historic record of Yorkshire life added to UN register

The Wakefield court rolls record the business of Wakefield manor from the 13th to the 20th century and offer an insight of the manor’s inhabitants. Covering not just Wakefield, but a huge area of the West Riding from Holmfirth to Halifax, Heptonstall, Dewsbury and Normanton these historical documents are probably the most complete set of surviving English court rolls.

The rolls are written in ink on parchment and after 1737 on paper, bound together at the top and originally rolled up. Until 1733 the rolls are written in Latin, with the exception of the Commonwealth period, and thereafter are written in English.

UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) UK Memory of the World Register aims to highlight documentary heritage which holds cultural significance specific to the UK. The UK Register helps raise awareness of some of the UK’s exceptional, but lesser-known documentary riches.

The nomination for inclusion on the register was made by the Yorkshire Archaeological Society (YAS) which holds these important records in its archive in Leeds.

Sylvia Thomas, YAS President, said: “I am delighted by this news.”

The majority of the 670 court rolls were gifted to the archaeological society by the Lord of the Manor the Earl of Yarborough in the 1940s along with other historical documents relating to the manor.