Medieval source material on the internet: Charters
- General collections
- Places
- Families
Charters
For a brief guide to charters,
click here
For some medieval records in Ancestry's UK and Ireland Collection,
click here
(1) General collections
- Anglo-Saxon:
- Anglo-Saxon Charters web site.
This site contains many listings and texts of Anglo-Saxon charters, as well as much background material.
Among the main collections are:
- Walter de Gray Birch, Cartularium saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history. (1883-1893) (Oxford Text Archive)
Text of volumes 1-3, though footnotes and variant readings are not included.
- Walter de Gray Birch Cartularium saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history. Vol. 1, A.D. 430-839 [Part 1, 430-738] (1885) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- Walter de Gray Birch, Cartularium saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history. Vol. 1, A.D. 430-839 [Part 2, 741-839] (1885) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Walter de Gray Birch, Cartularium saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history. Vol. 2, A.D. 840-947 [Part 1, 840-928] (1887) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Walter de Gray Birch, Cartularium saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history. Vol. 2, A.D. 840-947 [Part 2, 928-947] (1887) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- Walter de Gray Birch, Cartularium saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history. Vol. 3, A.D. 948-975 [Part 1, 948-959] (1887) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Walter de Gray Birch, Index Saxonicus: an index to all the names of persons in Cartularium Saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history. (1899) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- British Library:
- Henry J. Ellis and Francis B. Bickley, eds, Index to the charters and rolls in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum. Volume 1. Index Locorum. (1900) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Henry J. Ellis, ed., Index to the charters and rolls in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum. Volume 2. Religious houses and other corporations, and Index locorum for acquisitions from 1882 to 1900. (1912) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- [Edward A. Bond, ed.,] Facsimiles of ancient charters in the British Museum. Part 1. (1873) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
- [Edward A. Bond, ed.,] Facsimiles of ancient charters in the British Museum. Part 3. (1877) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- George F. Warner and Henry J. Ellis, eds, Facsimiles of royal and other charters in the British Museum. Volume 1. William I - Richard I. (1903) (HathiTrust)
- Harvard University:
- Miscellaneous:
- J. Horace Round, ed., Calendar of documents preserved in France, illustrative of the history of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 1. 918-1206. (1899) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
English abstracts, including many charters from Normandy, mainly from Record Commission transcripts (class PRO31/8); no more volumes published.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- F. M. Stenton, ed., Documents illustrative of the social and economic history of the Danelaw from various collections. (1920) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Latin transcripts, mainly of charters.
- Grant of William Bluet, lord of Lackham, late 13th century (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal and translation.
- Surrender and quitclaim of Thomas Coddebene of lands in Wendover [Buckinghamshire], late 13th century (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and abstract.
- Some medieval charters relating to Buckinghamshire, Sussex and Oxfordshire (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs and abstracts of a collection of ten medieval charters from the 14th and 15th centuries sold by Sotheby's of London in 2017.
- Grant by John de Retherden of land in Sevenoaks, 1311-1312 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photograph of document and abstract.
- Grant by Thomas, son of Michael de Wardle, of lands in Hundersfield in Rochdale, 1317 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and abstract.
- Agreement between John [Droxford], bishop of Bath and Wells, and Ralph Hereward of Cheddar, 1318 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs and abstract.
- Grant by John, son of Matthew del Kirshaw, of lands in Hundersfield in Rochdale, 1348 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and abstract.
- Grant by Denise, who was the wife of Richard del Cote, to John Dronsfeld of the reversion of lands in High Hoyland [Yorkshire], 1365 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal with abstract.
- Grant by Roger Goldhore to John de Dronsfeld of a plot of land in Crigglestone [Yorkshire], 1369 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal with abstract.
- Writ for an inquisition concerning John Wight the younger, keeper of the forest of Brigstock, 1383 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and abstract.
- Grant by Acrisius de Whasehow and Agnes, his wife, of a messuage and lands in Jolby in Croft on Tees, 1394 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and abstract.
- Letter of attorney of John Fretheby of Keyham [Leicestershire], [1399] (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and abstract.
- Grant by John Adames, vicar of Alberbury, and John Heye, chaplain, to Alice, the relict of John de Eyton, of lands in Vennington and Whitton [Shropshire], 1412 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal with abstract.
- Appointment of attorneys by Richard Birches of Solihull, 1419 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal and translation.
- Grant by John Baker, otherwise called John Hook, of lands in Shoreham and Otford, 1433 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photograph of document and abstract.
- Demise of John atte Hill, Thomas atte Hill and Edward Balle of lands in Framlingham [Suffolk], 1462 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seals and abstract.
- Demise of Thomas Webbe and John Marchant the elder of Peldon [Essex], 1514 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seals and abstract.
- Indenture between James Cole and John Bedford concerning a tenement in Longham in Hampreston, 1515 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photograph of document and transcription.
- Lease by Richard Penpons of property in the parish of St Wenn [Cornwall], 1533 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal and abstract.
- Lease by Richard Morten to Thomas Cam of land in Eckington, 1552 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs and translation.
- Bond of Robert Harryson of Saxon [Cambridgeshire] and Agnes his wife, 1566 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal and abstract.
- Indenture of sale, between Richarde Keable of East Mersea and John Potter of Langenhoe, of property in Abberton and Fingringhoe [Essex], 1595 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal, with a transcript.
- Surrender at a manorial court by John Hordorn, otherwise Corte, and Maud, his wife, of land in Gissing [Norfolk], 1479 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document, with an abstract.
- Grant by Edmund Tuttyll, Henry Rawlyn and Richard Rawlyn to William Stylle and Alice, his wife, of a messuage and garden in Swannington [Norfolk], 1554 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document, with an abstract.
- Indenture of sale, between John Conyworthe of Yardley and John Byrche of Shelfield, of land in Rushall [Staffordshire], 1579 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document and seal, with a transcript.
- Final concord between John Hooke and Barbara, his wife, and Edward Stovold, concerning property in Chiddingfold, made in the court of the manor of Godalming [Surrey], 1581 (Jim Poynor, this site)
Photographs of document with transcript.
- Monasticon Anglicanum:
- Roger Dodsworth and William Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum. [Volume 1.] (1655) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips]; Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- William Dugdale, ed., Monastici Anglicani. Volume 3. (1673) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: Google Books: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 [Hints and tips].]
- Sir William Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum. (1693) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Abridged edition in English [by James Wright].
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; HathiTrust Digital Library.]
- Sir William Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum. A new edition by John Caley, Sir Henry Ellis and the Rev. Bulkeley Bandinel. Volume 6, part 2. (1846) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: HathiTrust Digital Library: 1 ; 2 .]
- Sir William Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum. A new edition by John Caley, Sir Henry Ellis and the Rev. Bulkeley Bandinel. Volume 6, part 3. (1849) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: HathiTrust Digital Library.]
- National Archives:
- Norman:
- Online Collections:
- DEEDS - Documents of Early England Data Set (Michael Gervers, University of Toronto)
Searchable collection of the Latin texts of more than 10000 charters extracted from 190 published sources, mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries. The original emphasis was on Essex (the acronym originally stood for Documents of Essex England Data Set), but the collection also covers other parts of England and Wales. The largest numbers of charters come from Lincoln Cathedral, the Order of the Knights of the Hospital of St John, and the abbeys of Oseney, Cirencester and Eynsham. Normally a scan of the printed source - often including an abstract in English - can also be viewed.
The website also offers an online facility to estimate the date of a medieval charter.
- Writings 1350-1359 (WAALT: the Wiki for the Anglo-American Legal Tradition Website)
Listing, in progress, of documents recording land transactions enrolled in common law records, with links to photographs of the records.
- Historical Manuscripts: Deeds (Kenneth Jacob)
Transcripts and abstracts of deeds, including medieval material for Devon, Dorset, Essex, Kent, Lincolnshire, London, Norfolk, Pembrokeshire, Shropshire, Suffolk, Sussex and Yorkshire (PDF files).
- Oxford University:
- Royal:
- Calendar of Royal Charters, which occur in Letters of inspeximus, exemplification, or confirmation, and in Cartularies, in the Public Record Office. Part 1. From Aethilberht of Kent to William II. (HathiTrust Digital Library)
From various public records. (29th Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix, p. 7; 1868)
- The Charters of William II and Henry I (Richard Sharpe, David X. Carpenter and others, University of Oxford)
Latin transcripts of writs and charters and English translations, together with introductory material, notes and discussion.
- Calendar of Royal Charters, which occur in Letters of inspeximus, exemplification, or confirmation, and in Cartularies, in the Public Record Office. Part 2. Henry I. (HathiTrust Digital Library)
From various public records. (30th Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix, p. 197; 1869)
- Duchy of Lancaster. Calendar of Royal Charters. William II-Richard II. (HathiTrust Digital Library)
From DL 10 and other sources. Abstracts of some documents are included in the National Archives online catalogue. (31st Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix, p. 1; 1870)
(2) Places
- Athelney:
- Barking:
- Bath:
- Bridlington:
- Bristol:
- N. Dermott Harding, editor, Bristol Charters, 1155-1373. (1930) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bristol Record Society Publications, 1. Latin transcripts with English translations.
- H. A. Cronne, editor, Bristol Charters, 1378-1499. (1946) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bristol Record Society Publications, 11. Latin transcripts with English abstracts.
- R. C. Latham, editor, Bristol Charters, 1509-1899. (1947) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bristol Record Society Publications, 12. Latin transcripts with English abstracts and associated material.
- C. D. Ross, editor, Cartulary of St. Marks' Hospital, Bristol. (1959) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bristol Record Society Publications, 21. Calendar of cartulary completed in 1505, with Latin transcripts of early documents.
- Bruton:
- Burton Agnes:
- C. V. Collier, Documents at Burton Agnes. (Guy Vincent, this site)
From Transactions of the East Riding Antiquarian Society, volume 18, pp. 56-114 (1912) and volume 19, pages 1-39 (1913). Abstracts of numerous documents from the 13th century and later, mainly relating to Yorkshire. PDF file (15.5 MB).
- Buxton:
- Index to Catalogue of Buxton Deeds (to 1517) (The Buxton Papers, Cambridge University Library)
Index of names and places mentioned in medieval charters and title deeds among the papers of the Buxton family of Norfolk; the index refers to a catalogue held at Cambridge University Library. See also Index to Catalogue of Buxton Papers, Index to Calendar of Buxton Letters and List of wills in the Buxton Papers.
- Canterbury:
- Colchester:
- Congleton:
- Congleton
[Cheshire] Borough Charters (David Roffe)
Online transcript, in progress, of the 19th-century abstracts of a large collection
of charters (13th century and later), in preparation for the publication of a calendar.
A preliminary analysis of the charters is also available
- Derbyshire:
- Durham:
- Durham Priory Library Recreated (Durham Cathedral Library/Durham University Library)
Project to digitise manuscripts and early printed books. The material already available online includes - from Durham Cathedral Archive - Cartularium Vetus, Cartularies 1-4, Registers 1-5, Registra Parva 2-4, Repertorium Magnum and Repertorium Parvum - and medieval historical works from Durham University Library Cosin MSS.
- Earl's Colne:
- John L. Fisher, transcriber, Cartularium Prioratus de Colne (1946) (The Essex Society for Archaeology and History)
Essex Archaeological Society, Occasional Publications, number 1. Latin transcript of the 12th-century cartulary of the priory of Earl's Colne.
- Eynsham:
- Cartulary of Eynsham Abbey (Digital Bodleian, Oxford University)
Images of original Latin document, Christ Church MS 341. 1196-1197, with 13th- to 15th-century additions.
- Rev. H. E. Salter, ed., Eynsham Cartulary. Volume 1. (1907) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Oxford Historical Society, volume 49. Transcripts, mainly Latin.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- Rev. H. E. Salter, ed., Eynsham Cartulary. Volume 2. (1908) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Oxford Historical Society, volume 51. Transcripts, mainly Latin.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 .]
- Flaxley:
- Gloucester:
- Gloucester:
Historia et cartularium monasterii Sancti Petri Gloucestriae
(gallica;
Bibliothèque Nationale de France; numbers for "Recherche libre" field: N050233-N050235)
PDF format; Latin text from the edition of William Henry Hart
(Rolls Series 33, vols 1-3; 1863-1867)
- Haswell, County Durham:
- Kent:
- Lacock Abbey:
- Kenneth H. Rogers, editor, Lacock Abbey Charters (Wiltshire Record Spociety)
Wiltshire Record Society, volume 34 (1979). English abstracts.
- Lancaster:
- Lancashire:
- DL 25-27: Duchy of Lancaster deeds, series L, LL and LS (National Archives)
Catalogue summaries of deeds, with free downloadable images of seals. To restrict a catalogue search to these series, specify DL 25, DL 26 and DL 27 in "Search for or within references".
- Duchy of Lancaster. Calendar of Royal Charters. William II-Richard II. (HathiTrust Digital Library)
From DL 10 and other sources. Abstracts of some documents are included in the National Archives online catalogue. (31st Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix, p. 1; 1870)
- Duchy of Lancaster. Calendar of Ancient Charters or Grants (in boxes). Henry I-Henry VI. [Part 1.] (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
From DL 25/1-341. There are descriptions of the charters in the National Archives online catalogue, but they are less detailed than the ones in this calendar and contain some text conversion errors. (35th Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix, p. 1; 1874)
- Duchy of Lancaster. Calendar of Ancient Charters or Grants (in boxes). Henry I-Henry VI. [Part 2.] (HathiTrust Digital Library)
Charters from DL 25 relating to Furness Abbey, Cartmel Priory, Conishead Priory and Burscough Priory, with charters from DL 36 (Cartae Miscellaneae). There are descriptions of charters from DL 25 in the National Archives online catalogue, but they are less detailed than the ones in this calendar. (36th Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix I, p. 161; 1875)
- Loveden, Lincolnshire:
- Montacute:
- Muchelney:
- Newbattle:
- Nostell:
- Judith Anne Frost, An Edition of the Nostell Priory Cartulary, volume 1 and volume 2 (2005) (Ph.D. thesis, University of York)
Volume 2 contains Latin text with English abstracts and notes, from British Library, Cotton Vespasian E XIX, together with associated documents. Volume 1 contains introductory and background material.
- Nottinghamshire:
- Manuscripts and Special Collections Online Catalogue (University of Nottingham)
Provides access to a large collection of records, including family and estate collections for the Mellish family of Hodsock, the Newcastle family of Clumber Park, the Middleton Collection and the Portland (London) Collection.
- Oxford, St Frideswide's:
- Parkham, Devon:
- Parkham-related deeds
(Elizabeth Glover Howard, GENUKI)
Extracted items (mainly from the 16th century)
from J. C. Tingay, Calendar of Deeds Enrolled Within the County of Devon 1536 - 1673 (1930)
- Ramsey:
- Ramsey Abbey:
Cartularium monasterii de Rameseia
(gallica;
Bibliothèque Nationale de France; numbers for "Recherche libre" field: N050351-N050353)
PDF format; Latin text from the edition of William Henry Hart and the Rev. Ponsonby A. Lyons
(Rolls Series 79, vols 1-3; 1884-1893)
- Rochester:
- Sandhurst, Kent:
- Fowle family:
Deeds of various properties in ... Sandhurst in Kent (Bodiam Mill: Sources in Genealogy
and Local History for Sandhurst in Kent and nearby villages)
Abstracts of deeds at the East Sussex Record Office, 14th century and later, mainly relating to the Fowle family and the
manor of Betherinden in Sandhurst, Kent; now available by paid subscription only
- Scotland:
- Sheffield:
- Spotland, Lancashire:
- Whalley:
- W. A. Hulton, ed., The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey, volume 1 (1847) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, old series, volume 10. Latin transcript.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips]; Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; Medieval Documentation for Salford Hundred.]
- W. A. Hulton, ed., The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey, volume 2 (1847) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, old series, volume 11. Latin transcript.
[Other copies at: Google Books: 1 ; 2 [Hints and tips]; Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; Grimshaw Origins and History.]
- W. A. Hulton, ed., The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey, volume 3 (1848) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, old series, volume 16. Latin transcript.
[Other copies at: Google Books: 1 ; 2 [Hints and tips]; Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; Grimshaw Origins and History.]
- W. A. Hulton, ed., The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey, volume 4 (1849) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, old series, volume 20. Latin transcript. Includes an index to all four volumes.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips]; Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; Grimshaw Origins and History.]
- Whitby:
- Worcester:
- Yorkshire:
- William Farrer, ed., Early Yorkshire charters, volume 1 (1914) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- William Farrer, ed., Early Yorkshire charters, volume 2 (1915) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- William Farrer, ed., Early Yorkshire charters, volume 3 (1915) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Charles Travis Clay and Edith Margaret Clay Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volumes 1-3. (1942) (Cambridge University Press)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series, Extra Series, volume 4. The front matter, including an introduction, is available here.
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 4. (1935) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 5. (1936) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 6. (1939) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 7. (1947) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 8. (1949) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 9. (1952) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 10. (1955) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 11. (1963) (Cambridge University Press)
- William Farrer and Charles Travis lay, eds, Index to Early Yorkshire Charters, volume 12. (1965) (Cambridge University Press)
(3) Families
- Hoo:
-
- Tropenell:
- Tybotot/Chaworth:
- Real and False Crusading Charters (Nat Taylor)
Image of a contract dated 1270, by which Robert Tybotot [d. 1298] and Payn de Chaworth [d. 1279] agree to accompany the Lord Edward on crusade. Large jpg file (1.8MB) from a photograph of British Library, Additional Charter 19829, in Jonathan Riley-Smith, ed., Oxford Illustrated History of the Crusades, p. 63 (Oxford, 1995). With an image of a 19th-century fake crusading contract from France.
- Wolley:
- Catalogue of Wolley Charters (British Library/Royal Holloway College, University of London)
Collection of 1039 charters, mainly from the 13th and 14th centuries, relating to Derbyshire, neighbouring counties, and the North of England,
now searchable through the British Library Integrated Archives and Manuscripts Search.