Orkney Customs and Excise

• Reference:GB 241 CE55
• Dates of Creation:1750-1986
• Language of Material:English
• Physical Description:
  6.57 Linear Metres

• Scope and Content

  Entry books of letters written by the Collector to the Scottish Board of Customs and to its successor bodies, including the Board of Customs and Excise after 1909, 1799-1950. Includes: Letter books, Collector to the Board and others, 1799-1950; Board to the Collector, includes general orders addressed by the Board to all collections and particular correspondence addressed to the Board to individual ports, 1823-1940. Includes: Board’s orders, Board to the Collector, 1823-1940; Board to Collector Edinburgh and Leith, 1825, circular orders; Board to Collector Leith circular orders, 1826-1828.General letter books, entry books of out-letters addressed by the Collector to firms and individuals outside the service of the Board. Includes: Collector’s General letter books, 1929-1963.Miscellanea, 1750-1981. Includes: Register of ages and capacities, 1833-1889, 1916-1918; Customs Officer, Kirkwall to Collector at Wick and Others, letter book, 1886-1906; General Station letter books, 1927-1952; Register of crews discharged, 1852-1890; Register of crews engaged, 1851-1910; Surveyor to Admiralty Marshall, letter books, 1939-1943; Register of seizures, 1860-1943; Pier Head Record (Kirkwall), 1943-1947, 1959-1969; Pier Head Record (Stromness), 1961-1967; Pier Head Record (Lyness), 1940-1975; Pier head books, 1967-1974; Book of wrecks and salvage for the station at North Ronaldsay, 1965-1982; Book of wrecks and salvage for the station at Kirkwall, 1967-1981; Inventory of furniture belonging to the Crown at Kirkwall, c1855; Printed qualifications of all candidates for appointment as landwaiters, searchers and coast officers and gaugers in the customs, c1840; Documents relating to Pier Approvals, 1871-1925; Quays, harbours and wharves approvals, 1934-1936; Register of vessels working at unapproved places, 1910-1935; Store and general registers, 1903-1924, 1932-1938; Royal Navy Reserve correspondence, 1910-1924; Scapa Distillery, Stromness, reports to Board, 1911-1940; Stronsay to Kirkwall and various letter book, 1912-1939; Miscellaneous orders and papers, 1917-1933; Miscellaneous letters, 1933-1939; Collector’s letters and local correspondence, 1929-1936; War Division miscellaneous correspondence, 1937-1940; Overseas clearance book, 1922-1972; Officer’s declarations, 1750-1895; Register of goods warehoused for duty, 1900-1966; Despatch book, 1910-1972; Receiver of Wreck Droits, 1928-1935, 1940-1953, 1962-1969; Hydrocarbon Oils ledger, 1954-1965; Register of confirmations, 1942-1965; Royal Navy Reserve enrolment book, 1935-1958; List of works under section 14 of the Copyright Act 1911, 1923; Destricted ports and creeks cash book, 1922-1929; Sub ports and creeks cash book, 1939-1948; Sub ports and creeks (Stronsay) cash book, 1887-1925.Material relating to a subordinate excise station including records of surveyors at distilleries, 1872-1965. Includes: Distillery station letter book, 1928-1953; Highland Park operations register, 1954-1965; Highland Park station general entry books, 1872-1931; Highland Park station reports to Board, 1911-1925; Reports to Board, 1925-1940; Board’s report book, 1930-1952; Store and general register, 1931-1940; Weighing book for spirits, 1934.Shipping registers recording the title and property rights in ships and the descent and passage of that property from the date a ship is built until its registration is closed. The registers were administered by the Collectors of Customs in the ports of registration, 1802-1986. Includes: Registers of shipping, 1844-1904; Register of transactions relating to ships registered prior to 1 May 1855, 1851-1974; Register of steam boat certificates, 1856-1972; Register of sea fishing boats (Sea Fisheries Act 1868), 1869-1896; Registers of sea fishing boats (Scotland), 1887-1918; Register of fishing boats (Kirkwall), 1946-1986; Fishing boats records of deeds, 1891-1935; Return of fishing boats, Kirkwall, 1953-1967; Return of sea fishing boats, vol 1 (Sea Fisheries Act 1868), 1869-1898; Register of sea fishing boats, vol 2, 1869-1889; Papers relating to shipping registration including declarations of ownership, measurements, certificates of registry, transfers of registry, certificates of survey, bills of sale, transcripts from registers of certificates of registration, 1802-1948.

• Access Information

  Open; Records of the Board are closed for 75 years, records of outports and districts are closed for 30 years from the last date in the volumes.