National Manuscripts Conservation Trust: Funding Success for Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives

In June, Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives was awarded £5,200 by the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust to undertake conservation work on three of our Aberdeenshire Burgh volumes:

• The first volume of Stonehaven's Old Town Managers minutes covering 1753-1786. This volume was received by the archives in 2023 and has many loose pages as well as the cover becoming detached from the main block of the book. Torn pages have been repaired with gummed stamp paper which risks further damage to the original paper.
• The letter book of the Stonehaven Harbour Trust covering 1829-1878. The covers of this volume are completed detached from the text block and c. 10 pages are loose.
• An account book and stent roll for Banff covering 1684-1694 which has water damage and severe dog ear folds at the corners.

This funding will allow us to commission a specialist conservator at the Book & Paper Studio in Dundee to carry out the work necessary to repair these volumes and make them fit for researchers to access again. In the case of the Stonehaven Old Town minutes, for the first time, as its fragile condition has meant it has been marked as restricted access to prevent further damage.

The volume covers a period where Stonehaven, a burgh of barony, had the York Building Society as it's feudal superior. The 1800s saw a more quarrelsome relationship with the subsequent superior over their respective rights, so this volume will facilitate study of the relationship prior to this dispute. The volume itself has an unusual style of sewing on its gathering, adding to its significance. 

The Stonehaven Harbour Trust letter book (above, 1829-1878) includes copies of important correspondence regarding the legal dispute with the superior; letters about the execution and financing of repairs including correspondence with the noted engineer Robert Stevenson; correspondence relating to the Trustee’s policy relating to dues and associated payment disputes; and developments like the adoption of lights, storm signals, and staffing.

The Banff Account Book and Stent Roll (right, 1684-1694) offers unique information on the town’s inhabitants and finances in the late 17th century. Banff was the county town of Banffshire and an important centre of trade.  

The NMCT was founded in 1990 with a focus on caring and conserving manuscripts in the UK. It has awarded over £4m in grants to organisations across the country since its foundation. We are very grateful to have received a grant in this round of funding.

We look forward to updating you when the conservation work is completed next year!

Katy Kavanagh, Senior Archivist