Old Documents Berkshire Options

[Familytreeingfor...]

Hi
My nan has given me some old documents, that my grandfather use to collect. They are from about 1900 - 1935. We are trying to find someone in Berkshire who could possibly tell us how much they are worth.
Does anyone know anywhere we could go?
Thanks
Carrie-Anne

[JeffG]

I'm sure the library would be interested. They could probably advise you.

[dannyboy]

Hi
My nan has given me some old documents, that my grandfather use to collect. They are from about 1900 - 1935. We are trying to find someone in Berkshire who could possibly tell us how much they are worth.
Does anyone know anywhere we could go?
Thanks
Carrie-Anne

Dreweatte Neate.

[blackdog]

The library probably won't be much use, they will just point you to the museum or the Berkshire Record Office.

The museum will look at them and say how interesting they are. They will not value them (for various reasons it is totally against museums' policy to provide valuations). They may be prepared to accept them into their collection (depends what they are) or they may suggest offering them to the Berkshire Record Office, they are unlikely to offer to pay for them unless there is something special about somewhere in West Berks.

The Record Office does buy particularly interesting documents - a lot depends on what you have got. If nothing else they are probably the best people to advise on the historical value (very different from any monetary value).

If you are trying to sell them you could always try ebay - but, as someone has already suggested, Drewatt Neate is a good starting point to see if they have any real value. However 1900-1935 is not very old, they will need to have something else going for them apart from age.

[JeffG]

The library probably won't be much use

Well maybe not the Newbury branch, but just take a look at this: http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/services/local.htm. Note the second paragraph.

I expect the Newbury branch would have known this too.

However, I don't know if they would pay for them. Most people donate this sort of stuff.

[Familytreeingfor...]

Hi Thanks for the advice, my nan's tried the first place you suggested before, and apparently they were quite rude to her, she thinks though this was because it was very busy when she went in.
It is mainly renting of land documents from Dukes, and also certificate for schools and racing in the area.

[blackdog]

Reading Local Studies Library has a great collection, but since the division of Berkshire into the unitary authorities in the 1990s it has ceased to be the Berkshire Local Studies Library and hence they are pushed towards collecting Reading specific items. Their current local studies librarian may interpret this loosely, but you need to see him rather than whoever is on the desk when you go in. It would be best to phone in advance - ask for David Cliffe.

The Berkshire Record Office (BRO) is still the best place to try, they certainly collect property records (deeds etc) and school records and ephemera.

Neither of these organisations are likely to offer to pay for the sort of items mentioned unless there is something special.

Wherever you go it would be best to make an appointment, if you just drop in unannounced you are unlikely to be able to speak to the one person in the organisation able to properly assess the documents (to be fair the BRO have 2 or 3 such people).