WORK on a comprehensive register of Northumberland’s manors has received a £73,000 boost.

The Manorial Documents Register for Northumberland was revised by Northumberland Archives last September and the organisation has received the bumper grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop the project further.

The £73,000 granted will allow Northumberland Archives, which is part of Northumberland County Council, to train and work with volunteers to transcribe manorial documents and develop community-based activities, run workshops and talks across the county, develop an exhibition and a series of guides, digitise core documents and promote work through project blogs and social media, as well as working on a project with Whitley Chapel First School.

The manorial recording system began in the 11th century and remains open today. It records that Northumberland had 396 manors and 39 baronies, with 274 of these documented.

Coun. Cath Homer, cabinet member for culture, arts, leisure and tourism at Northumberland County Council said: “The launch of the register for Northumberland is the culmination of three years of work by Northumberland Archives staff, and has led to the discovery of many fascinating and previously unknown records

“The register holds a wealth of information on social and urban development, business, family names, land and property ownership, finance, diet, agriculture and even crime, from medieval times to the 20th century.

“It is fantastic news that Northumberland Archives has been granted funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support an outreach project that would involve workshops, volunteer transcription, social media, a travelling exhibition and school activities.”

The Manorial Documents Register for Northumberland is accessible online at discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/manor-search