Durham County Council (1888 - 1974)
Reference: CC/WM Catalogue Title: Durham County Council (1888 - 1974) Area: Catalogue Category: Local Authority Records Description: Weights and Measures Department
Covering Dates: 1894-1971
Catalogue Index
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- Durham County Council (1888 - 1974)
- Durham County Council Weights and Measures Department (Ref: CC/WM1 - 7)
- Registers of samples (Ref: CC/WM 1/1 - 1/2)
- Adulteration register (Ref: CC/WM 2)
- Registers of chemical analysis (Ref: CC/WM 3/1 - 3/4)
- Indexes to Registers of chemical analysis (Ref: CC/WM 4/1 - 4/2)
- Records of proceedings and prosecutions (Ref: CC/WM 5 - 7)
Catalogue Contents
The Department changed its name in 1974 into Consumer Protection [see DC/CP].
Although control over weights and measures in England can be traced as far back as William the Conqueror's times and beyond, more organized jurisdiction in this area of law enforcement began with the introduction of the Courts of Quarter Sessions in the 17th Century.
The next major change in the service was the establishment of Durham County Constabulary in 1839, which, among many other duties, took over responsibility for certifying weights and measures.
In 1891 this duty passed over to the newly created Durham County Council.
The first Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures Department was Benjamin Scott Elder, who had two assistants. They undertook their duties according to the Adulteration of Food and Drinks Act 1860 and Weights and Measures Act 1878 (amended in 1889). Inspectors authorised food samples by having them analysed in a laboratory.
Food was not the Department's only concern. Controlling overloaded vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1930 was added to its tasks.
Another major change in the service took place in 1974 with local government reorganisation. The Department was given a new name: Consumer Protection, which also reflected its new responsibilities, including regulations in animal health, hallmarking, agriculture, labelling of food, price control. The Department also introduced an advice service to the public. The latter became one of its main activities as customers themselves, more aware of their rights became more demanding. Therefore the County's first Consumer Advisory Officer was appointed. Several advice centres and surgeries were created within all district councils.
In this shape the service survived another local government reorganisation in 2009 and found its place within the new unitary authority, but was closed shortly after, in 2011. Many weights and measures or food control related responsibilities were passed onto external bodies and organizations.
The records produced by the Department after over 100 years of service show how crucial its function was for the local community's health and safety. They are also an excellent source of information, from which we can learn about life in the county; for example there were many cases of putting water into milk in war time, which is a quite obvious example of food shortages, or very often people were fined for selling coal in amounts exceeding the stated minimum.
Applies only to registers CC/WM 3/1-3
Ref: CC/WM 4/1
