DERING Manuscripts: Part 1

This collection despite its fragmentary and miscellaneous character may be regarded as the 'official' Dering papers in so far as the depositors are daughters of the late Sir Henry Dering, who disposed of the Surrenden estate in 1928 and subsequent years. All other groups of Dering MSS. are therefore cross-referenced to this part of the collection, which consists primarily of (i) a valuable group of medieval deeds mainly for Pluckley, (ii) a most interesting collection of original correspondence, 1607-1737, (iii) a large quantity of Sir Edward Dering's collection of transcripts, genealogical notes, etc.

Note on classification. The normal system in use in the Kent Archives Office has been adopted, but with a collection of this kind it is difficult to decide the provenance of many items or how they came to be at Surrenden. There is therefore a large miscellaneous section to U133 and U350 consisting mainly of the notes, transcripts, pedigrees, etc., accummulated by Sir Edward Dering. Where a document, probably original, and of a clearly official character has been found, it has been considered better to list it under the heading 'Official Papers'.

In view of this peculiar history it is little wonder that items from this important body of archives should have been received from a number of sources. While it is regarded as right to retain the arrangement of these papers according to present ownership, convenience dictates their being brought together to form a single catalogue of many sections. For this reason, too, the documents received from the daughters of the late Sir Henry Dering have been regarded as the principal accession.

The groups of Dering papers thus received up to January 1954 comprise:-

Catalogue mark: U133, Donor or depositor: Dr. H.E. Littledale of Charing, a small miscellaneous group

Catalogue mark: U140, Donor or depositor: Saxon charter purchased by Sir Albert Stern and presented to the County, formerly Phillipps MS.

Catalogue mark: U275, Donor or depositor: Doreen, Lady Brabourne, deeds, etc., given by Sir Henry Dering and also some papers purchased in sales during the 19th century

Catalogue mark: U350, Donor or depositor: Mrs. C. Langworthy and Mrs. Sturgess (daughters of Sir Henry Dering) per Historical MSS. Commission, a very varied but important group of papers

Catalogue mark: U357, Donor or depositor: Commander C.D. Stephenson, a few items from the much larger collection acquired by him in 1951

U357 has been added to U1107

U350 addn.

Dering Estate Papers: 1922-1928

Deposited by Mrs. Langworthy, of Brabourne, Kent. 22nd September, 1960.

E19-21

Acc. 1083

A1-A4

Presented by Mrs Sturgess, June 1964

Key sheet to N.R.A. Catalogue.

K.A.O. ref: U350/M1, N.R.A. ref: 11

K.A.O. ref: U350/M2, N.R.A. ref: 12

K.A.O. ref: U350/T1, N.R.A. ref: 25, 26, 32, 33

K.A.O. ref: U350/T2, N.R.A. ref: 368

K.A.O. ref: U350/T3, N.R.A. ref: 83, 88, 89, 101-103, 107

K.A.O. ref: U350/T4, N.R.A. ref: 57, 66, 70, 71, 75, 99

K.A.O. ref: U350/T5, N.R.A. ref: 92-94, 97, 98

K.A.O. ref: U350/T6/1-9, N.R.A. ref: 16, 19, 20, 27, 28, 31, 47, 50, 52

K.A.O. ref: U350/T6/10-21, N.R.A. ref: 53, 64, 67, 77, 78, 91, 95, 96, 100, 106, 108, 109

K.A.O. ref: U350/T7, N.R.A. ref: 48, 49

K.A.O. ref: U350/T8, N.R.A. ref: 68, 76, 79

K.A.O. ref: U350/T9, N.R.A. ref: 72, 84, 85

K.A.O. ref: U350/T10, N.R.A. ref: 54, 55, 58, 62, 63, 65, 104, 105, 117, 118, 119, 122, 132

K.A.O. ref: U350/T11, N.R.A. ref: 81, 82, 87

K.A.O. ref: U350/T12/1, 2, N.R.A. ref: 38, 46

K.A.O. ref: U350/T12/3, N.R.A. ref: 45

K.A.O. ref: U350/T12/4, N.R.A. ref: 14

K.A.O. ref: U350/T12/5, N.R.A. ref: 51

K.A.O. ref: U350/T13, N.R.A. ref: 30, 35, 80

K.A.O. ref: U350/T14, N.R.A. ref: 37, 39

K.A.O. ref: U350/T16, N.R.A. ref: 21, 23, 41, 43, 44

K.A.O. ref: U350/T17, N.R.A. ref: 59, 61, 110

K.A.O. ref: U350/T18/1-4, N.R.A. ref: 34, 42, 60, 125

K.A.O. ref: U350/T19, N.R.A. ref: 15, 18, 22

K.A.O. ref: U350/T20, N.R.A. ref: 29

K.A.O. ref: U350/T21, N.R.A. ref: 13

K.A.O. ref: U350/T22, N.R.A. ref: 17

K.A.O. ref: U350/T23/1-2, N.R.A. ref: 24, 40

K.A.O. ref: U350/T24, N.R.A. ref: 36, 69, 86

K.A.O. ref: U350/T25/1-5, N.R.A. ref: 128, 129, 130, 131, 144

K.A.O. ref: U350/F1/1-3, N.R.A. ref: 333, 334, 335

K.A.O. ref: U350/F2, N.R.A. ref: 90

K.A.O. ref: U350/F3, N.R.A. ref: 178

K.A.O. ref: U350/F4, N.R.A. ref: ?

K.A.O. ref: U350/F5, N.R.A. ref: 175

K.A.O. ref: U350/F6, N.R.A. ref: 163

K.A.O. ref: U350/F7, N.R.A. ref: 152

K.A.O. ref: U350/F8, N.R.A. ref: 179

K.A.O. ref: U350/F9/1-3, N.R.A. ref: 170, 327

K.A.O. ref: U350/F10, N.R.A. ref: 332

K.A.O. ref: U350/F11, N.R.A. ref: 332

K.A.O. ref: U350/F12, N.R.A. ref: 332

K.A.O. ref: U350/F13, N.R.A. ref: 332

K.A.O. ref: U350/F14, N.R.A. ref: 332

K.A.O. ref: U350/F15, N.R.A. ref: 153

K.A.O. ref: U350/F16, N.R.A. ref: 150

K.A.O. ref: U350/F17/1-6, N.R.A. ref: 151, 154

K.A.O. ref: U350/F18, N.R.A. ref: 154

K.A.O. ref: U350/F19, N.R.A. ref: 161

K.A.O. ref: U350/F20, N.R.A. ref: 158

K.A.O. ref: U350/F21, N.R.A. ref: 157

K.A.O. ref: U350/C1/1, N.R.A. ref: 358

K.A.O. ref: U350/C1/2, N.R.A. ref: 357

K.A.O. ref: U350/C2/1-145, N.R.A. ref: 182-330 passim;

K.A.O. ref: U350/C2/1-40, N.R.A. ref: 362

K.A.O. ref: U350/C3, N.R.A. ref: 10, 176

K.A.O. ref: U350/C4, N.R.A. ref: 331

K.A.O. ref: U350/E1, N.R.A. ref: 73

K.A.O. ref: U350/E2, N.R.A. ref: 74

K.A.O. ref: U350/E3, N.R.A. ref: 133

K.A.O. ref: U350/E4, N.R.A. ref: 174

K.A.O. ref: U350/E5, N.R.A. ref: 111, 112, 113, 116, 120, 121, 123, 124, 134, 136, 137, 289

K.A.O. ref: U350/E6, N.R.A. ref: 10, 176

K.A.O. ref: U350/E7/1-3, N.R.A. ref: 126, 127

K.A.O. ref: U350/E8/1-4, N.R.A. ref: 135, 138, 139

K.A.O. ref: U350/E9, N.R.A. ref: 142

K.A.O. ref: U350/E10, N.R.A. ref: 147

K.A.O. ref: U350/E11, N.R.A. ref: 141

K.A.O. ref: U350/E12, N.R.A. ref: 143

K.A.O. ref: U350/E13, N.R.A. ref: 143

K.A.O. ref: U350/E14, N.R.A. ref: 140

K.A.O. ref: U350/E15, N.R.A. ref: 140

K.A.O. ref: U350/E16, N.R.A. ref: 148

K.A.O. ref: U350/E17, N.R.A. ref: 145, 146

K.A.O. ref: U350/E18, N.R.A. ref: 140

K.A.O. ref: U350/L1, N.R.A. ref: 8

K.A.O. ref: U350/L2, N.R.A. ref: ?

K.A.O. ref: U350/L3, N.R.A. ref: 2-4

K.A.O. ref: U350/L4, N.R.A. ref: 167

K.A.O. ref: U350/L5, N.R.A. ref: 171, 172

K.A.O. ref: U350/L6, N.R.A. ref: 173

K.A.O. ref: U350/O1, N.R.A. ref: 344

K.A.O. ref: U350/O2, N.R.A. ref: 149

K.A.O. ref: U350/O3, N.R.A. ref: ?

K.A.O. ref: U350/O4, N.R.A. ref: 5

K.A.O. ref: U350/O5, N.R.A. ref: 155

K.A.O. ref: U350/O6, N.R.A. ref: 9

K.A.O. ref: U350/O7, N.R.A. ref: 180

K.A.O. ref: U350/O8, N.R.A. ref: 165

K.A.O. ref: U350/O9, N.R.A. ref: 177

K.A.O. ref: U350/O10, N.R.A. ref: 7

K.A.O. ref: U350/O11, N.R.A. ref: 166

K.A.O. ref: U350/O12, N.R.A. ref: 6

K.A.O. ref: U350/O13, N.R.A. ref: 168

K.A.O. ref: U350/O14, N.R.A. ref: 365

K.A.O. ref: U350/O15, N.R.A. ref: 169

K.A.O. ref: U350/O16, N.R.A. ref: ?

K.A.O. ref: U350/Q1/1-9, N.R.A. ref: 181, 184

K.A.O. ref: U350/Q2, N.R.A. ref: 164

K.A.O. ref: U350/Q3, N.R.A. ref: 367

K.A.O. ref: U350/Q4, N.R.A. ref: 363

K.A.O. ref: U350/Q5, N.R.A. ref: 336

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z1, N.R.A. ref: 366

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z2, N.R.A. ref: 360

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z3, N.R.A. ref: 361

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z4, N.R.A. ref: 359

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z5, N.R.A. ref: 364

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z6, N.R.A. ref: 351

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z7, N.R.A. ref: 337

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z8, N.R.A. ref: 338

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z9, N.R.A. ref: 353

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z10, N.R.A. ref: 343

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z11, N.R.A. ref: 339

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z12, N.R.A. ref: 342

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z13, N.R.A. ref: 340

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z14, N.R.A. ref: 341

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z15, N.R.A. ref: 346

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z16, N.R.A. ref: 349

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z17, N.R.A. ref: 348

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z18, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z19, N.R.A. ref: 350

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z20, N.R.A. ref: 356

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z21, N.R.A. ref: 355

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z22

K.A.O. ref: U350/347

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z23, N.R.A. ref: 352

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z24, N.R.A. ref: 347

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z25, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z26, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z27, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z28, N.R.A. ref: 345

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z29, N.R.A. ref: 354

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z30, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z31, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z32, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z33/1-6, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z34, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z35, N.R.A. ref: 159

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z36, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z37, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z38, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z39, N.R.A. ref: 160

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z40, N.R.A. ref: 156

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z41, N.R.A. ref: 114

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z42, N.R.A. ref: -

K.A.O. ref: U350/Z43, N.R.A. ref: -

The Dering family settled at Surrenden in Pluckley during the early 15th century and by the next century had added their own name to the name of the estate. Their connection with Surrenden-Dering lasted until 1928 when the late Sir Henry Dering sold the estate. Moreover the family had Kentish connections from pre-Conquest days and many members of the family held offices of importance. Any land-holders of such antiquity might be expected to have accummulated a quantity of archives, but the importance of the collection was greatly enhanced by the interests of Sir Edward Dering (d. 1644), the first baronet. A man of affairs, parliamentary and local, and also a man of letters, Sir Edward was noted in his day as an an antiquary and scholar. He was a personal friend of Sir Robert Cotton, Sir William Dugdale, Sir Christopher Hatton and Sir Thomas Shirley and in this private capacity as well as through his more public offices acquired a vast quantity of original charters and papers, an equally large number of transcripts and notes. Among his finds was a copy of Magna Carta from Dover Castle, subsquently given to Cotton and lost.

The antiquaries noted above, employed their own methods of identifying documents seen or used by them and the endorsing of Charters with a saltire sable indicated that the document belonged to Sir Edward Dering. The addition of 'D' or 'd' showed that Dering had transcribed it either in full or in an abbreviated form. The value of these marks to the student is considerable for it helps in the identification of items formerly part of the Surrenden collection.

At all subsequent stages, however, the collection was depleted and Hasted writing in 1782 refers to the severe losses sustained by that date. With the gradual decline of family fortunes this process was accelerated and in the mid-19th century large sales of manuscripts took place many documents going to the British Musuem, while others joined the Phillipps Collection. Before the final sales of the Mansion, yet other archives were disposed of and it was thought that the house had been cleared. In 1951, however, a further miscellaneous accummulation was discovered in the attics and acquired by Commander C.D. Stephenson of Little Chart. An additional dispersal resulted in this century from the break-up of the Phillipps Collection.