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Cumbria Archive Service has been successful in acquiring the third set of Lady Anne Clifford’s Great Books of Record, a historic treasure for the county and one of national importance. The acquisition was made possible with a £64,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, equal to 90 per cent of the price paid.  The Great Books will be reunited with the other two sets which are already deposited in the Record Office in Kendal. 

Councillor Tim Heslop, Cumbria County Council portfolio holder for libraries and archives, said: 

"This is extremely good news for the Cumbria Archive Service and all who care for the county's heritage and history. We are deeply grateful that the Heritage Lottery Fund has supported our bid to keep these important documents in the county and we would like to thank all the local donors who also contributed towards the cost.
"A large number of people have worked to save Lady Anne Clifford's Books of Record for Cumbria and their generosity and persistence has been rewarded.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire these volumes in trust for the people of Cumbria and it has been successful." 

Tony Jones, Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Manager for the North West, said:   

“Seeing the three sets of manuscripts brought together for the first time really captures the imagination, and gives us a fascinating insight into 17th-century life here in the North West, and across the nation. The purchase of these rare documents is a great chance to let people enjoy and learn about their heritage, and help preserve it long into the future. At the Heritage Lottery Fund we're delighted to give our full support to this important acquisition.” 

County Archivist Anne Rowe said: 

"We are delighted that we shall be able to provide access to these books at the Record Office in Kendal.
"The volumes are of national importance, besides being an extremely important source for the history of Cumbria and Yorkshire. Lady Anne Clifford was a very significant figure in 17th Century history, especially women's history, and the bringing together of all three sets gives academics the first opportunity in over 300 years to study the volumes together.
"Much of their importance lies in the fact that they are remarkable and pioneering works of scholarship in themselves, tracing the descent of one of England’s great landowning families from the 12th century using original sources, many of which no longer survive. 

Lady Anne Clifford (1590-1676) spent much of her life fighting for her right to inherit her estates in Westmorland and Craven. The result of this endeavour was the Great Books of Record, part cartulary, or register, of all the documents relating to her family and her estates, many of which no longer survive, part family pedigrees and part autobiography.    

Since the Great Books represented a major undertaking and Lady Anne wanted frequent access to them, three sets of these great volumes were prepared, and kept separately at Appleby Castle, Skipton Castle and Lincolns Inn. Lady Anne frequently annotated the Great Books during her travels and each set is therefore unique.  Until now the third set has remained in private hands.   

The purchase bid attracted considerable local support, with donations received from Cumbria County Council’s Eden Local Committee, Curwen Archives Trust, Appleby-in-Westmorland Society, Clifford Society, Cumbria Family History Society, Friends of Cumbria Archive Service and individual donations. 

Cumbria Archive Service plans to build on this support to promote the Great Books of Record as a source for learning about the local area and one of the great land-owning families in the 17th Century. 

The volumes will form part of an exhibition on Appleby, to be held in July, and there will be a preview of the volumes in late April.  The acquisition of the volumes gives the archive service the opportunity to deepen collaboration with local museums in providing an education service to schools. Scholars are expected to welcome the opportunity to study all three sets of the Great Books in one location. 

Lady Anne Clifford was a significant personality in 17th-century Westmorland. Her motto, “Retain your loyalty, preserve your rights”, summarises her life, in particular her lifelong dedication to her ancient lineage and the glorification of her family line, her determination to regain her rightful inheritance even in the face of royal opposition, her restoration of the Clifford castles at Brougham, Brough, Appleby and Pendragon, the rebuilding of churches, and her patronage of artists, craftsmen and writers.
The acquisition of the final set of her Great Books of Record completes a unique and continuous record of the Clifford Estates from 1203 to 1649.