| Description | This collection comprises mostly title deeds but also includes accounts 1391-1773, receipts 1459-1729, correspondence 1543-1852, wills 1640-1775, legal papers 1631-1725, estate surveys of Thorp Raw 1627, Sockburn Corn Tithe Accounts 1783-1804, a valuation of Mrs Blackett's estates at Hornby, Smeaton and Appleton 1768, a copy plan of Sir Edward Blackett's Estate at Hornby and Smeaton 18th cent, field books of properties at Appleton, East Layton, Hornby, Girsby, Sockburne, Kirklington and Smeaton 18th cent, and an Inspeximus by King Henry III 1257.
The documents relate to places in the North Riding including Appleton 1619-1650, Arkengarthdale mid 18th century, Barningham 1657, Bedale 1777, Castle Carlton 1457-1463, Dinsdale, Girsby and Sockburne 1535 -1682, Ebberston 1257, East Layton 1637-1699, Farmanby 1332, Great Langton 1616, Great Smeaton 1543-1776, Hornby 1622-1682, Hutton Bushell 1391-1441, Kirklington 1730-1740, Langthorne 1619-1698, Linton-on-Ouse 1706-1707, Melmerby 1618, Middleham 1743, Richmond 1743, Slingsby 18th century, Thirsk 1750-1751, Thorpe Raw 1620-1639, and Wycliffe 1750-1751. There are also documents relating to Little Ouseburn 1627, Mulwith 1693-1724 and Newby-upon-Ure 1713-1744 in the West Riding; Bishopton 1478-1597, Chester-le-street 1613-1645, Darlington 1549-1685, Newsham 1541-1609, Sadburgh 1673-1702, and Sedgefield 1650-1656 in County Durham; Haltwhistle 1612-1760, Thornegraften 1612, Ridley, Willimondswick, Morpeth, Matfen and Winlinton in Northumberland 1612-1760; Cambridge, Haddenham, Isle of Ely and Wilburton in Cambridgeshire 1626-1685; Stanwell in County Middlesex mid 18th century; Norwich in County Norfolk 1725; Walsall in County Stafford 1629; and Richmond in County Surrey 1716-1718. |
| Administrative history | From the deeds, it seems that the family first obtained property in the area in 1682. In that year William Blackett purchased from the trustees of John Stonor and his wife Lady Mary, part of the ancient Conyers estate, which had been inherited by Lady Mary from her mother, the Countess of Shrewsbury a daughter of William Conyers of Sockburne. The property then conveyed included the manors of Sockburne county Durham and of Girsby Yorkshire with various properties int he same area and at Hornby and Dinsdale. The next substantial acquisition was in 1729 when John Blackett purchased the manor of Hornby and a miscellaneous group of small properties in Hornby, Great Smeaton, Thorpe Raw and Appleton. These had been accumulated by Christopher Byerley of Midridge County Durham and then acquired and increased by Thomas and William Hall, from the last of whom they were purchased by Blackett. He paid £10,700 for the property, most of which was used to satisfy the mortgagees who included the executors of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. The signatures of the Duchess Sarah and of her co-executor Francis Earl of Godolphin appear on a number of deeds (see numbers 140/1, 157 and 159). Later purchases of small parcels, chiefly in Hornby made in 1729, 1760, 1763, 1774 and 1775, rounded off the estate. |