Where are Darwen's Documents?

Posted on Friday, 02 May 2008 10:54PM by Jayne Waring

Where are Darwen’s historical documents?   As reported in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in December 2006 http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2006/12/29/956901.html  Darwen documents had been abandoned, covered in asbestos dust under Darwen Town Hall (See also newscuttings from The Darrener 2008 above)   Following this report a few months later all the documents had disappeared, where to, no one seems to know or more likely they are just not saying. I know that some of the B With D Council employees where afraid to voice there objection at the way the council handled the treatment of a TOWN’s historical documentation, for fear of losing their jobs and whilst I can understand their position I think it is about time someone spoke out and told the people of Darwen what has happened to their documents. I know that some have gone to the Museum and some are at the moment being stored at Blackburn Library, awaiting shipment to the Lancashire Records Office. However this only accounts for around 5% of the documents, so what has happened to the other 95%? Have they been shredded? Dumped? Burnt or sold? Below is an inventory of documents removed by the council and if compared to the photographs the quantity of documents far exceeded this inventory (Inventory sent to Jayne Waring via email, if anyone knows of an official inventory JW would like a copy) Inventory of Records within the Basement of Darwen Town Hall Room 51:- 2 books containing Committee of Education Minutes Dating 1923-1945                   17 books containing Board of Committee Minutes (all                   Committee minutes within these dates are signed) Dating 1923-1963                                                     Room 52:- Annual health reports for Darwen Dating 1895-1906, 1922-1957                Corporation account books for Darwen Dating 1904-1957     Room 53:- Registration of development of lower class properties                   (This book was written and signed but didn’t get dates                    From and to)                                     Registration of planning acceptance to out buildings i.e.                   Coal sheds, outside toilets (This book was written and                   Signed but didn’t get dates from and to)                                      Local land charges                       Dating 1970-1971                                    Local government purchases         Dating 1933                     Declaration of acceptance of office 2 books signed                     Council committee minutes (printed) Dating 1968-1972                     Corporation purchase files (housing the corporation has                   Purchased back off private home owners dating within                   The 60’s)                                     Health committee reports (printed but didn’t get dates)   Room 54:- Council committee minutes (all these books are                   Printed) Dating 5th May 1948-6th May 1963 These are questions that I want answering, so if anyone knows anything about the documents please let me know. If you take a look at the gallery you will see the amount of documentation I am talking about and its not just a few hundred, it is thousands, all pertaining to Darwen before its merger with Blackburn.   Jayne Waring More pictures in our gallery The disappearance of our documents restricts us from obtaining information for historical research, as is the case in this report.   ‘It is understood that a very large quantity of Darwen borough archives are currently stored within the borough, but that they are subject to low-grade asbestos contamination.[1] This part of the archive certainly includes council minutes and may possibly include committee reports and other relevant documentation, but given its present state—and the low priority awarded to decontamination—it is unlikely to be available in the near future.’   Taken from a 2007 Historic Landscape Report, commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Council and undertaken by Dr Alan Crosby. [1] Personal communication from an archivist at Lancashire Record Office Dr Alan Crosby's full report can be downloaded from this link.  http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/upload/doc/Sunnyhurst_Woods_Historic_Landscape_survey_JULY_07_web.doc