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Catalogue

Chester-le-Street Poor Law Union

Reference: U/CS Catalogue Title: Chester-le-Street Poor Law Union Area: Catalogue Category: Local Authority Records Description: 

Covering Dates: 1840-1930

Access: Access is restricted for up to 100 years under Data Protection legislation. Apply to county archivist for access.

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Chester le Street Poor Law Union (Ref: U/CS 1-139/4)

From 1837 the Chester le Street Poor Law Union had responsibility for poor law provision in the area covering: the parish of Chester le Street (including the chapelry of Lamesley but not the chapelry of Tanfield); Washington parish; Witton Gilbert parish (except Kimblesworth), and; the South Biddick and Cocken townships of Houghton le Spring parish.
In 1846 the union became the rural sanitary authority, until around 1875.
In 1862 the Guardians of the union gained responsibility for rating valuation/assessment. This devolved, in 1925, to Chester le Street Rural District Council and the Urban District Councils of Chester le Street and Washington.
In 1930 responsibility for Public Assistance was transferred to Durham County Council.

Minutes (Ref: U/CS section 01)Board of Guardians minutes (Ref: U/CS 1-15, 140)

Board of Guardians minute book, 9 July 1840 - 17 July 1845
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians rough minute book, 23 March 1848 - 1 April 1852
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, indexed, 23 January 1851 - 10 May 1855
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians rough minute book, 15 April 1852 - 16 August 1855
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Board of Guardians rough minute book, 30 August 1855 - 13 January 1859
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 18 April 1872 - 30 September 1875
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 30 September 1875 - 18 July 1878 Includes: workhouse and finance committee minutes, 30 September 1875 - 4 July 1878
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 7 August 1884 - 1884 - 3 February 1887
(1 volume, calf-bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 24 September 1891 - 2 February 1894
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 22 February 1894 - 14 May 1896
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 28 May 1896 - 12 May 1898
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 26 May 1898 - 3 January 1901
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 22 September 1904 - 18 March 1909
(1 volume, calf bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 17 August 1922 - 20 September 1926
(1 volume, cloth bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 23 September 1926 - 31 July 1929
(1 volume, cloth bound)


Board of Guardians minute book, 2 August 1929 - 31 March 1930
(1 volume, cloth bound)


Chester-le-Street Union, minute book, 1888 - 1919
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

Relief Committees (Ref: U/CS 18-26)

Birtley District Relief Committee minute book, 25 May 1911 - 23 November 1922
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Chester-le-Street District Relief Committee minute book, 21 April 1904 - 11 May 1911
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Chester-le-Street District Relief Committee minute book, 25 May 1911 - 7 December 1922
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Harraton District Relief Committee minute book, 21 April 1904 - 30 March 1911 Includes: Washington District Relief Committee minutes, 13 April 1911 - 20 December 1923
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Washington District Relief Committee minute book, 25 May 1911 - 20 December 1923
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Chester-le-Street District Relief Order Book, 30 September 1928 - 31 March 1929 Includes: Chester-le-Street, Edmondsley, Great Lumley, Plawsworth, Waldridge and Witton Gilbert
(1 volume, cloth half-bound)


Chester-le-Street Relief Order Book, 30 September 1929 - 31 December 1929 Includes: Chester-le-Street, Edmondsley, Great Lumley, Plawsworth, Waldridge and Witton Gilbert
(1 volume, cloth half-bound)


Chester-le-Street Relief Order Book, 31 March 1930 Includes: Chester-le-Street, Great Lumley, Plawsworth and Waldridge
(1 volume, cloth bound)


Washington District Relief Order Book, 31 December 1914 - 31 March 1915 Includes: Washington and Usworth
(1 volume, cloth bound)

Workhouse Visiting Committee (Ref: U/CS 27-29, 344)

Workhouse Visiting Committee minute book, including sub-committees minutes, 30 October 1912 - 14 October 1915
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Workhouse Visiting Committee minute book, including sub-committee minutes, part indexed, 21 October 1920 - 14 June 1923
(1 volume, cloth half-bound)


Workhouse Visiting Committee minute book, including sub-committee minutes, 28 June 1923 - 26 November 1925; Relton House and Cottage Homes Visiting Committee minutes, 11 June 1925 - 21 September 1926
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Chester-le-Street Union visitors book, and payment receipts, 1928 - 1929
(1 booklet)

Boarding Out Committee (Ref: U/CS 30-31)

Boarding-out Committee minute book, 16 June 1921 - 6 February 1930
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Foster parents undertaking forms (blank), n.d.
(1 volume)

Special Committee (Ref: U/CS 32)

Special Committee minute book, 13 October 1904 - 20 March 1913
(1 volume, cloth bound)

School Attendance Committee (Ref: U/CS 33)

Guardians' School Attendance Committee minute book, 17 May 1877 - 3 July 1890
(1 volume, calf bound)

Assessment Committee (Ref: U/CS 34-37, 141)

Assessment Committee rough minute book, 13 November 1862 - 23 July 1874
(1 volume, leather half-bound, and 16 papers)


Assessment Committee minute book, 2 November 1862 - 30 April 1874
(1 volume, calf bound)


Assessment Committee rough minute book, 17 September 1874 - 22 February 1883
(1 volume, calf bound)


Assessment Committee minute book, 22 March 1883 - 11 April 1895
(1 volume, calf bound)


Chester-le-Street Union, assessment rough minute book, 1897 - 1903
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

Finance Committee (Ref: U/CS 142)

Chester-le-Street Union, Finance Committee minute book, 1913 - 1926
(1 volume, cloth bound)

Chester le Street parish overseers' minutes (Ref: U/CS 143)

Overseers of the Poor of the parish of Chester-le-Street minute book, 1923 - 1927
(1 volume, leather bound)

Agenda papers (Ref: U/CS section 02)

16


Board of Guardians meeting agendas, 14 February 1924 - 25 March 1926
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

Guardians' declarations on acceptance of office (Ref: U/CS section 03)

17


Guardians' forms of declaration on acceptance of office, 28 April 1910 - 30 April 1925
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

Financial records (Ref: U/CS section 04)

see also CC/Tr

Financial statements (Ref: U/CS 57-61)

Financial statements, 1895 - 1899
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Financial statements, 1904 - 1909
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Financial statements, 1909 - 1914
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Financial statements, 1914 - 1919
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Financial statements, 1919 - 1927
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

Loan accounts (Ref: U/CS 62, 311-317)

Statement of loan accounts, 1891 - 1911
(1 volume, calf half-bound)


Loan account sheets, with statements of people to whom loan has been granted by Chester-le-Street Union, for Great Lumley district, 1926 - 1927
(1 bundle)


Loan account sheets, with statements of people to whom loan has been granted by Chester-le-Street Union, for Chester-le-Street, 1929
(1 bundle)


Loan account sheets, with statements of people to whom loan has been granted by Chester-le-Street Union, for Edmondsley, 1929
(1 bundle)


Loan account sheets, with statements of people to whom loan has been granted by Chester-le-Street Union, for Great Lumley 1929
(2 files)


Loan account sheets, with statements of people to whom loan has been granted by Chester-le-Street Union, for Grange Villa, n.d. [1920's ]
(1 bundle)


Loan account sheets, with statements of people to whom loan has been granted by Chester-le-Street Union, for Waldridge, n.d. [1920's]
(1 bundle)


Loan account sheets, with statements of people to whom loan has been granted by Chester-le-Street Union, for Witton Gilbert, n.d. [1920's]
(1 bundle)

Treasurers' receipts and payments (Ref: U/CS 63)

Treasurers' account book of receipts and payments on behalf of the guardians, 1926
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

General ledgers (Ref: U/CS 64-90)

General ledger, 1853 - 1856
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1856 - 1860
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1860 - 1865
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, part indexed, 1866 - 1869
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, part indexed, 1870 - 1873
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1873 - 1878
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1878 - 1882
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1882 - 1883
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1883 - 1886
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1886 - 1888
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1888 - 1890
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1890 - 1892
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1895 - 1896
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1896 - 1898
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1898 - 1900
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1900 - 1901
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1901 - 1903
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1903 - 1904
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1904 - 1907
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1907 - 1910
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1910 - 1913
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1913 - 1916
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1916 - 1920
(1 volume, calf bound)


General ledger, 1920 - 1924
(1 volume, cloth bound)


Treasurers' account ledger, 4 October 1905 - 30 September 1910
(1 volume, calf bound)


Treasurers' account ledger, 13 October 1910 - March 1915
(1 volume, calf bound)


Treasurers' account ledger, 1 April 1915 - 30 September 1915
(1 volume, calf bound)

Parochial ledgers (Ref: U/CS 91-102)

Parochial ledger, 1853 - 1858
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1858 - 1864
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1865 - 1867
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1868 - 1875
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1876 - 1882
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1883 - 1890
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1890
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1891 - 1896
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1896 - 1901
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1901 - 1906
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1906
(1 volume, calf bound)


Parochial ledger, 1907 - 1927
(1 volume, calf bound)

Non-resident ledgers (Ref: U/CS 103-104)

Non-resident and non-settled ledger, 1888 - 1889
(1 volume, calf bound)


Non-resident and non-settled ledger, 1890 - 1891
(1 volume, calf half-bound)

Parish contributions (Ref: U/CS 105)

Estimate of contributions required from the constituent parishes, April 1893 - March 1915
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

Collectors and Relieving Officers receipts and payments (Ref: U/CS 106-107)

Collectors receipts and payments book, Birtley district, 1929 - 1930
(1 volume, leather half-bound)


Relieving officers' receipts and expenditure, 1927 - 1929
(1 volume, leather half-bound)

Precepts (Ref: U/CS 195, 304)

Chester-le-Street Union, Register of precepts, 1927 - 1930
(1 volume, cloth bound)


Files of correspondence and papers re rate precept of Chester-le-Street Union, 1925 - 1926
(2 files)

Financial correspondence (Ref: U/CS 199, 223, 261, 271, 309, 318, 323)

Correspondence and accounts re Chester-le-Street Union estimates and expenditure, 1903 - 1922
(1 bundle)


File of correspondence to Chester-le-Street Union re district auditors surcharges, 12 September 1908 -29 April 1927
(1 file)


File of papers re the transfer of a loan from the National Penny Bank Ltd., to the Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd., 1916
(1 file)


File of Chester-le-Street Union correspondence re County rate basis and assessment under the County Rates Act 1852, October 1920 - February 1927
(1 file)


File of correspondence of Chester-le-Street Union with Ministry of Health re overdrafts, 23 April 1926 - 17 September 1926
(1 file)


File of Chester-le-Street Union correspondence re Widows, Orphans and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act 1925, January - February 1926
(1 file)


File containing correspondence re loans, statements of financial position of Chester-le-Street Union and estimates, 1926 - 1929
(1 file)

Insurance (Ref: U/CS 285)

Insurance policies of Chester-le-Street Union, 1922
(1 bundle)

Correspondence (Ref: U/CS section 05)Correspondence re poor law buildings and contracts (Ref: U/CS 197, 225, 245, 256-257, 266, 278, 320, 326-329)

Envelope containing Watson and Son's heating contract for workhouse building with Chester-le-Street Union, 24 May 1897
(paper, 1 bundle)


Tenders for supply of wood and installation of laundry apparatus in Chester-le-Street Union workhouse, 1910
(paper, 1 bundle)


File of papers re telephone agreements, 1913 - 1921
(paper, 1 file)


Correspondence and contract with Mr. J. Thornton, milk contractor, 1915 - 1921
(paper, 1 file)


Correspondence re supply of books, stationery etc., forms of tender and tenders for printing, 1915 - 1927
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence re Stella Cottages, Pelton Fell, 6 March - 23 April 1918
(1 file)


Correspondence re workhouse laundry alterations, 1921 - 1924
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence re alterations to casual wards belonging to Chester-le-Street Union, 16 April 1926 -25 August 1927
(paper, 1 file)


File of contracts for the workhouse and cottage homes, 1927 - 1930
(paper, 1 file)


Envelope containing unsuccessful tenders for workhouse contracts, 20 March 1928
(paper, 1 bundle)


Correspondence re Workhouse Administration, 1928 - 1929
(paper, 1 file)


Folder containing outstanding accounts of Chester-le-Street Union with tradesmen and for relief, 4 October 1928 - 2 May 1929
(paper, 1 bundle)

General correspondence (Ref: U/CS 200, 205, 228, 254, 272, 279, 283, 286-290, 294, 297-302, 305-306, 310, 319)

File of general letters, main topics include Education Scheme, Thomas porter Equipment Fund, workhouse administration and accounts, 1904 - 1908
(1 box file)


File of papers re Local Government Board vaccinations, including vaccination returns and related correspondence, 1905 - 1930
(1 file)


File of papers re Staff Organisation Committee, including lists of salaries paid, vaccination orders, vaccination returns, petrol returns, related correspondence etc., 1910 -1919
(1 file)


Chester-le-Street Union, general correspondence, main topics include cases for relief, medical officers and public vaccinators, appointment of pension officers etc., 1915 - 1919
(1 file)


Folder containing assessments correspondence and correspondence with Easington Union, 1920 - 1929
(1 bundle)


File of general correspondence of Chester-le-Street Union including administration, out-relief, poor law institution, Pelton Road widening, 21 August 1921 -25 February 1924
(1 file)


File of general Chester-le-Street Union correspondence, main topics include applications for removal of children from workhouse, placing of children from cottage homes, provisions for children and old people, payment of out door relief, appointment of foster mothers, etc., 1922
(1 file)


General correspondence, main topics include applications for position of foster mother, Provision of Meals Act, unemployment relief etc., 1922 - 1923
(1 file)


File of miscellaneous correspondence including relief cases and workhouse, 20 September 1922 - 11 April 1924
(1 file)


General correspondence re appointment of overseers, cottage homes, institutes for mentally defective and child welfare, 23 June 1922 - 4 October 1926
(1 bundle)


Folder containing general correspondence, main topics include Relton House, applications for position of assistant nurse, county rate appeals, function of poor law authorities, etc., 1922 - 1929
(1 bundle)


File of general correspondence to Chester-le-Street Union re institutions for the blind, workhouses, cottage homes, poor law and training institutions, 16 August - 21 December 1923
(1 file)


File of general correspondence, topics include Durham County Tuberculosis Care Committee, Poor Law Examinations Board, Union accounts, appointment and resignation of guardians and general administrative matters, 1923 - 1929
(1 file)


File of general correspondence re meetings, appointments, poor Law assistance to unemployed, coal allowances, Prudhoe Hall Colony, provision of free meals to children, charities etc., 1924 - 1925
(1 file)


File of correspondence for discussion at Board Meetings, 1924 - 1926
(1 file)


File of general correspondence re cottage homes, appointment of relieving officer, relief etc., 1924 - 1928
(1 bundle)


File of general correspondence of Chester-le-Street Union including appointment of assistant to relieving officer and distribution of out-relief, 26 June 1925 - 13 August 1925
(1 file)


File of general correspondence and circular letters, 1925 -1926
(1 file)


File of general correspondence including circular letters from other Unions, relieving officers' timetable, staff organisation correspondence, emergency committee correspondence etc., 1925 - 1926
(1 file)


Emergency Committee correspondence, 1925 - 1927
(1 file)


File of general correspondence of Chester-le-Street Union including street repairs, relief and Mansion House Fund, 1 December 1926 - 15 March 1929
(1 file)


Folder containing miscellaneous correspondence re out-relief and relief tickets, coal industry etc., 4 May 1926 -27 July 1926
(1 bundle)


File of general correspondence re administration of out-relief, mortgages and pensions, 23 September 1926 - 5 July 1927
(1 file)

Correspondence re children in care (Ref: U/CS 201-203, 212, 224, 229-230, 270, 274, 276, 291, 307, 330, 335)

Local government board correspondence re relief to orphans, 1905 - 1911
(paper, 1 file)


Local government board correspondence re relief to orphans, 1911 - 1915
(paper, 1 file)


National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children correspondence re subscriptions, 1905 - 1925
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence re St. Oswald's House, Cullercoats, Children's Home, 11 October 1907 - 30 April 1912
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence, papers and advertisements re children in certified schools and institutions, 6 July 1909 - 12 June 1915
(paper, 1 file)


File of Bastardy Orders made in Chester Ward petty sessions, 1910 - 1930
(paper, 1 file)


File of papers re Children's Act 1908 [8 Edward VII, c.67], including copy of act, notices of act, reports of local officers, circular letters and related correspondence, 1911 - 1928
(paper, 1 file)


File of reports and correspondence re infant protection under the Children's Act of 1903, 1920 - 1921
(paper, 1 file)


Folder of miscellaneous items re institutions for blind and mentally handicapped children including application forms and correspondence, 1921
(paper, 1 bundle)


Folder containing papers re complaints at cottage homes and result of enquiries, February - March 1921
(paper, 1 file)


Bundle of papers re children in care with Chester-le-Street Union, 1923 - 1926
(23 papers, 10 files)


File of correspondence re cottage homes, including forms for adoption of children, 1925 - 1929
(paper, 1 file)


Form of undertaking of foster parent with Chester-le-Street Union, 21 December 1929
(paper, 1 file)

Correspondence re health matters (Ref: U/CS 204, 324)

File of correspondence of the Local Government Board re annual subscription to Newcastle Royal Infirmary, 14 April 1905 - 27 December 1929
(1 file)


File of correspondence re lack of medical attention for maternity case at Birtley, 1927 - 1928
(1 file)

Correspondence re Durham County Asylum [Winterton Hospital] (Ref: U/CS 213, 215, 227, 244, 253, 267-269, 292)

File containing notices of deaths at Durham County Asylum, half-yearly returns and statements to be used in connection with Guardians' visits to asylum, 30 March 1907 - 31 January 1913
(paper, 1 file)


Papers re Durham County Asylum including list of inmates chargeable to Chester-le-Street Union and correspondence re visits of Guardians, 1907 - 1914
(paper, 1 bundle)


File of papers re provision for epileptics and feebleminded including copy of Mental Deficiency Bill, 1913, copy of regulations and accounts of Poor Law Committee and related correspondence, 30 May 1910 - 18 February 1916
(paper, 1 file)


File of Durham County Asylum notices of admission and quarterly returns to Board of Control, 1913 - 1918
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence re annual visit of deputation to the county asylum and report of medical officers on visit, 1915 - 1928
(paper, 1 file)


File of quarterly and annual returns to Board of Control re lunatics in workhouses of Chester-le-Street Union, 31 December 1918 - 31 December 1924
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence from County Asylum and others re lunatics, 1919 - 1928
(paper, 1 file)


Notices of admission to Durham County Asylum, 3 January 1919 - 17 May 1928
(paper, 1 file)


Annual returns of a list of lunatics chargeable to Chester-le-Street Union , 1923 - 1927
(paper, 5 files)

Correspondence with Government departments (Ref: U/CS 222, 253, 265, 321, 333,)

Assessment Committee correspondence re Local Government Board clerk's salary, 1908 - 1927
(paper, 1 file)


Board of trade employment returns and related correspondence, 9 December 1914 - 3 October 1920
(1 file)


File containing correspondence and local government board publications re reconstruction of poor law unions, 8 May 1917 - 25 September 1918
(1 file)


Sundry correspondence with Ministry of Health General Inspector, 1926 - 1929
(1 file)


Bundle of papers re reorganisation of Chester-le-Street Union relief district, 1929 - 1930
(1 bundle)

Circulars (Ref: U/CS 237-238, 284, 295, 308)

File of circular letters from the Local Government Board to Chester-le-Street Union, 20 December 1912 - 30 August 1922
(1 file)


Circulars of Local Government Board to Chester-le-Street Union re Poor Law Institutions Order 1913, 1913 - 1914
(1 file)


Folder containing circular letters from Unemployment Grants Committee, National Poor Law Officers' Association and other unions, 1922
(1 bundle)


Circular letters from other unions, 1923 - 1929
(1 file)


Correspondence from Poor Law Unions Association and other Union conferences, 1925 - 1930
(1 file)

Correspondence re First World War matters (Ref: U/CS 250-252, 260, 262-263)

File of correspondence from Local Government Board re action to be taken to relieve distress caused by the War, 4 July 1914 - 12 November 1914
(paper, 1 file)


Insurance policies on lives of paupers in workhouse of Chester-le-Street Union, 1914 - 1919
(paper, 1 file)


File of papers and correspondence relief to British-born wives and children of interned aliens, 19 November 1914 - 9 March 1920
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence re discharged soldiers applying for cut relief, 1916
(paper, 1 file)


File containing notices of marriage without licence re Belgian marriages in Chester-le-Street, 27 January - 21 September 1916
(paper, 1 file)


File of correspondence with Local Government Board and others re the treatment of Belgians in workhouse infirmary and other institutions, 1916 - 1918
(paper, 1 file)

Miscellaneous (Ref: U/CS section 06)

136, 322


Ordnance Survey book of reference and key maps for Washington, Witton Gilbert and Houghton-le-Spring, 1864
(1 volume, leather bound)


File of newspaper cuttings of items re Chester-le-Street Union, 1926 - 1929
(paper, 1 file)