Pipe rolls – publishing the ‘most splendid’ records

The annual Pipe Roll Society Lecture.

In 1711, the pipe rolls were described as the ‘most splendid’ records in the royal archives, next to Domesday Book. Some examples from a single roll, from 1259, show the use of the pipe rolls for political, economic, family and local history. Unfortunately, pipe rolls are not easy to use. The originals are cumbersome and hard to navigate. Those that have been edited and published in Latin are little more user-friendly for non-specialists. Repeated attempts to produce catalogues or calendars in English have come to nothing. Now that all the rolls from 1225 have been photographed and put online, it may be time to look again at providing better means of accessing the rolls.

Founded in 1883 at the Public Record Office, the Pipe Roll Society publishes the Pipe Rolls and associated records of medieval English government, and of other manuscripts of national importance prior to the year 1350. It welcomes new members for an annual subscription of just £10. More details can be found on their website at piperollsociety.co.uk

This year’s lecture will be delivered by Richard Cassidy. Richard has a PhD in medieval history from King’s College London. His thesis was an edition of the 1259 pipe roll, which is to be published by the Pipe Roll Society. He has published several articles on thirteenth-century finance and administration, and a short book, Approaching Pipe Rolls, which is a guide to reading and understanding pipe rolls.

This event takes place at The National Archives in Kew and is in-person only. It will not be streamed or recorded. The event will last approximately one hour, followed by an opportunity to view original records from The National Archives' collection.