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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D4983
TitleDerby Borough Town Clerk's Office
Date1610-1970
DescriptionIncluding Title deeds and related papers 1610-1970, Leases and related papers 1817-1940, Agreements relating to tenancies 1914-1941, parks and recreation grounds 1866-1935, poor law 1901-1935, health 1901-1947, mental health 1869-1945, police 1918-1949, utilities 1918-1931, Royal Agricultural Show at Derby 1918-1931 and other activities 1910-1935, Committee minutes and related papers 1892-1958, Declaration of Acceptance of Office 1926-1935, Court case and legal papers relating to cases 1866-1940, Papers relating to Parliamentary legislation affecting Derby Borough and other corporations 1868-1946, Reports and other papers re interactions with central government 1832-1939, Records concerning registration of freeman and voters 1873-1909, Papers regarding preparations for Parliamentary elections 1873-1909, Minutes, orders, reports, plans and other papers relating to Town Planning and Housing provision 1865-1953, Reports and other records regarding drainage and sewage 1843-1935, Records relating to the 1932 Riverlands Improvement Scheme 1931-1934, Records concerning arbitration with the Derwent Valley Water Board 1913-1942, Rainfall chart books 1936-1954, Declarations of streets as highways 1858-1914, Papers concerning the provision of omnibus and tramways services 1907-1934, Papers regarding the development of Derby Airport at Burnaston 1935-1947, Correspondence, accounts and other papers relating to Derby Charities and support from Derby to non-Derby charities 1841-1952, Various papers relating to World War II activities including provision of air raid shelters, registration of accommodation, civilian deaths and requisition of land for war purposes 1939-1946, Programmes, photographs and other records concerning ceremonial and civic events 1882-1954, Byelaws, regulations and orders 1838-1939, Printed notices and other records 1788-1932

Also including Derby Borough Quarter Sessions papers 1786-1946, Normanton Parish Council (1894-1928) and Burial Board minutes and other records 1894-1928 and Normanton Township Lighting minutes 1876-1894
Extent175 boxes
LevelFonds
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
Full Catalogue ListClick here to view a full list for this collection
Archive CreatorDerby Borough Town Clerk's Office
Administrative HistoryThe Borough of Derby had been granted several royal charters since the time of King Henry II confirming their rights and privileges. In 1682, King Charles II granted a new charter for the Borough, which included provision for the appointment of a town clerk.

The Town Clerk was the chief executive and administrative officer of the Corporation. As Clerk of the Council he attended and advised at its meetings and those of its committees and sub-committees. He and his staff were responsible for providing a wide range of clerical and administrative services for the Corporation. These included the maintenance and keeping-up to date of the burgess roll, lists of freemen and electoral registers, preparations for the holding of Parliamentary and local elections, distribution of documents for Council and committee meetings, communicating with central government departments and other local authorities, and dissemination of information on policy to other officials of the Council. The Town Clerk also acted as solicitor for the Corporation, assisted by a staff of qualified lawyers, advising the Council and its committees on their legal rights and duties and ensuring that the requirements and duties by Acts of Parliament were carried out. The Town Clerk's Office also acted for the Council in court cases or actions of litigation, and drafted conveyances, leases, agreements, contracts, and byelaws and regulations. The Town Clerk was custodian of the Corporation's common seal, by which all documents of importance were authenticated. He also acted as the Clerks for the Local Board and Urban Sanitary Authority, as well as being Clerk of the Peace and Clerk of Courts of Record, and Clerk of the Municipal Charity Trustees.

The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 reformed the nature of incorporated boroughs, including that of Derby. The Act established that boroughs would be run by councils elected by all male ratepayers rather than more closed bodies of self-appointed aldermen and burgesses. It also established in all boroughs the office of Town Clerk, a salaried official who was appointed by (but not be a member of) the council.

The Public Health Act 1848 allowed local boards of health to be set up to improve standards of public health in terms of water supply, drainage, sewerage, street cleaning, street paving and environmental regulation. In the case of Derby the Borough Council took over in 1850 those responsibilities, which included several which had previously been granted to Derby Improvement Commissioners by Acts of Parliament passed since 1768. The Town Clerk acted as the Clerk for the Local Board of Health.

The Public Health Act 1872 gave additional responsibilities to existing local authorities with regard to clean water, sewerage, street cleaning and clearing of slum housing. Sanitary districts were set up, and in the case of Derby the Borough Council acted as the Derby Urban Sanitary Authority. The Town Clerk acted as the Clerk for the Derby Urban Sanitary Authority.

The Public Health Act 1875 extended the responsibilities of local councils in many areas, requiring more regulation of house building, water supply, sewerage, food hygiene and street lighting.

The Local Government Act 1888 established county boroughs, of which Derby County Borough was one. It was a unitary authority, which was administratively independent of Derbyshire County Council, which had been set up under the provisions of the same Act in 1889.

The Local Government Act 1972 abolished the county boroughs, which meant that Derby had a lower tier non-metropolitan district council, although the council were allowed to retain the name of Derby Borough Council. In 1977 Derby was granted city status to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1997 Derby City Council became a unitary authority.

- List of Town Clerks
John Bagnold (1682-1689)
Samuel Heathcote (1689-1723)
Hugh Bateman (1723-1740)
William Bateman (1740-1756)
Benjamin Blyth (1756-1758)
John Wright (1758-1765)
William Merrill Lockett (1765-1777)
John Leaper (1777-1791)
Edward Ward (1791-1818)
Bryan Thomas Balguy (1818-1857)
John Dunnicliffe (1857-1866)
John Gadsby (1866-1879)
Harry Freckleton Gadsby (1879-1902)
Thomas William Coxon (1902)
George Trevelyan Lee (1902-1932)
Charles Ashton (1932-1948)
EH Nicols (1949-1953)
EH Emlyn Jones (1953-1960)
NS Fisher (1960-1974)
Custodial HistoryThese records were deposited at Derbyshire Record Office by Derby City Council in 1999. They had been transferred by the Town Clerk's Office to the Derby Local Studies Library, probably at the time of local reorganisation in the early 1970s.
ArrangementD4983/1 Title deeds and related papers
D4983/2 Leases and related papers
D4983/3 Agreements and related records
D4983/4 Committee business and related papers
D4983/5 Quarter Sessions records for the Borough of Derby
D4983/6 Court case and legal action records
D4983/7 Parliamentary and central government business papers
D4983/8 Elections and electoral registration papers
D4983/9 Town planning and housing papers
D4983/10 Sanitary, drainage and waterworks
D4983/11 Transport infrastructure records
D4983/12 Charities records and papers
D4983/13 World War II activities
D4983/14 Records of ceremonial and civic occasions
D4983/15 Byelaws, regulations and orders for Derby Borough
D4983/16 Printed material
D4983/17 Normanton Parish Council and Burial Board, including Normanton Township Lighting minutes
D4983/18 Derby Corporation bills, vouchers and accounts
Organisation Sub-TypeBorough councils
Access ConditionsThe following description is a summary collection level guide only, providing information on scope, content, dates and access conditions.
Places
Place (click for further details)Type
Derby 
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