Fanshawe Collection

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: BD16
Held at	: Barking and Dagenham Archives and Local Studies Service   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/residents/leisure-libraries-and-museums/history-heritage-and-archives/ ›
Full title	: Fanshawe Collection
Date(s)	: 1450 - 1927
Level of description	: Fonds
Extent	: 50 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Various
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

In the middle ages the Fanshawe family lived at Fanshawe Gate in Holmesfield, Derbyshire. In later times the family became more widely dispersed, with one branch of the family living at Parsloes, Dagenham, from 1619 until 1916. Other branches lived at Dronfield, Derbyshire, Ware, Hertfordshire, and elsewhere. A detailed account of the family's history between 1375 and 1926, is given in a book by H. C. Fanshawe, entitled, 'The History of the Fanshawe Family' (First published 1927).

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

This collection comprises the diplomatic and private letters of Sir Richard Fanshawe (1608-1666), a loyal supporter of King Charles I and King Charles II, who served as English envoy to Portugal 1661 to 1663 and ambassador in Spain 1664 to 1666, and is also noted for his poetical and translation work (BD12/1), together with the genealogical and historical research papers, compiled during the early twentieth century by Herbert Charles Fanshawe (1852-1923), who wrote a book entitled 'A History of the Fanshawe Family' (BD12/1); as well as family papers, such as wills, trusts, marriage settlements, correspondence, diaries and commonplace books, as well as estate records, including deeds, leases and household accounts ranging in date from the sixteenth to the early twentieth century (BD12/3).

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
Engish

System of arrangement:

This collection has been arranged into three series. The first consists of material collected by Basil Fanshawe and the second is made up of the papers on ths history of the family compiled by Herbert C. Fanshawe. Meanwhile the third is made up of material relating to the Fanshawe family that is without provenance or original order, which has subsequently been brought together as a composite series, and is catalogued as received at file level. Much of the material within this third series was donated by Captain Fanshawe in 1962. It also includes addition material which was later donated by various individuals to Valence House Museum.

Conditions governing access:

The material within this collection is open to research by appointment at the Barking and Dagenham Archives and Local Studies Centre. For further information about visiting the reading room please contact localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk or telephone 020 8227 2030.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Material within this collection can be reproduced at the discretion of the Borough Archivist. For further information about conditions governing reproduction please contact localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk or telephone 020 8227 2033.

Finding aids:

A list of the letters of Sir Richard Fanshawe was published in 'The Papers of Sir Richard Fanshawe' (1999) by R. M. Walker and W.H.Liddell. For more detailed accounts of the archival history of this collection see 'From Bilbao to Becontree: the Previous History of the Papers of Sir Richard Fanshawe' also by R. M. Walker and W.H.Liddell (1996) and the article by Geoffrey Yeo, entitled 'Custodial History, Provenance, and the Description of Personal Records', published in Libraries and the Cultural Record, vol.44, no.1 (2009), pp.50-64.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

This collection was assembled in the early 20th century by Basil Fanshawe (1857-1944), a retired tea planter, of Bratton Fleming, Devon, and by his sister, Beaujolois Ridout (1858-1940); and was acquired by Valence House Museum between 1961 and 1964.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:

Date(s) of descriptions:
The fonds level description was created in 2005. Further series and file level descriptions were added between 2012 and