| Description | This sub-fonds relates to records of enrolment, registration, deposit and returns. It contains various records relating to game preservation, including:
- registers of deputations of gamekeepers (gives names of lords of manors, names of manors, name and usually status of gamekeeper and date of appointment or deputation) [1797-1960]
- letter relating to the deputation of a gamekeeper [1756]
- certificates of registration of deputations [1796]
- deputations to gamekeepers [1839 and 1851]
- registers of certificates for killing game, (annual lists of lords of manors taking out certificates includes the name, place of residence and date of issue of certificates; and of gamekeepers entering deputations and taking out certificates giving the name of the game keeper, the name of the lord of the manor, the manor, date of deputation, and date of issue of certificates) annual lists from 1787 [1784-1804]
- letters and papers relating to the issue of certificates for killing game and certificates for gamekeepers [1784-1804]
- accounts and papers relating to fees for the issue of certificates and their supply [1787-1791] |
| Administrative history | Registration of gamekeepers with the Clerk of the Peace was introduced by an Act of 1710 (9 Anne cap. 27) "for the better preservation of game". Under this Act a lord of a manor could appoint one gamekeeper with the power to kill game and had to enter his name with the Clerk of the Peace. The Act of 1784 (24 George III, session 2, cap. 43) required "every person qualified in respect of property to kill game" to register his name and abode with and pay fees to the Clerk of the Peace and to register every appointment of a gamekeeper. In 1785 an Act (25 George III cap. 50) required "every person who shall keep any dog, gun, net or other engine for the taking or destruction of game" to register and take out a certificate annually. This was repealed in 1861.
The Game Laws were revised by the Act of 1831 (1 & 2 William IV cap. 32). Every person who took out an annual game licence was allowed to kill game subject to the law of trespass; registration of deputations was to continue. These records of registration give information about the descent of manors and lords of manors which is sometimes not readily available elsewhere. |