03/09/03 - Grant to bring Lady Anne's legal battle diaries home

Today, Cumbria County Council's Eden Local Committee awarded £1000 to the county's archive service to help bring Lady Anne Clifford's Great Books of Record outlining her legal battle to inherit her father's estate, home to Cumbria. The volumes, compiled between 1649 and 1651, are an archival resource of unique importance.   

Lady Anne Clifford was a significant personality in the 17th century. Her family owned the Clifford castles at Brougham. Brough, Appleby and Pendragon. County Councillor Mary Warburton, Chair of Eden Local Committee, says,   

"Not only do the Great Books contain a detailed account of the Clifford family geneology but also transcripts of hundreds of documents relating to her battle to inherit her father's estate, many of which have now been lost. The books are of great importance to local and family historians and offer a valuable insight into the history of Westmorland as well as the Clifford family and its estates. I wish the county archive service every success in securing the Lady Anne Clifford Great Books in the county."   

Peter Eyre, Assistant County Archivist says, 

"Cumbria Archive Service has a unique opportunity to acquire the third set of these Great Books, but time is limited with the risk that they could be sold to a private buyer overseas. We are requesting funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as local grant applications. Lady Anne Clifford's Great Books of Record would be a major acquisition for the county, completing a unique and continuous record of the Clifford family from 1203 to 1649.