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Searching

The catalogue can be searched for keywords or phrases, and browsed and filtered by charter, seal and place headings.
Keyword searching supports wildcards (? = any one character; * = 0 or more of any character) and Boolean operators (AND, NOT). `john AND tyrel*` will find documents relating to John Tirell, Tyrel, Tyrell but also to William Tyrell. Searching is case insensitive except that Boolean operators must be in upper case.
To search for an exact phrase enclose it in double quotation marks. “John Tyrell” will find that string but not “John Tyrel”.
Search is context-specific. If you are browsing by charter, seal or place a search is applied only within that category of material.

Browsing

Charters and seals can be browsed by date, county and collection using the filters listed under “Limit your search”.

Searching by place-names

Place-names can be found using keyword or phrase search or by using the index of place-names. If using keyword search the use of the wildcards ? and * is recommended due to inconsistencies in the spelling of place-names. For major place-names (i.e. not names of smaller units such as field names) the index of place-names will usually provide more reliable results. The entry for a county in the place-names index will list the settlements, parishes and manors in the county for which the catalogue contains records.

Searching by personal names

Use keyword or phrase search to find personal names. Due to inconsistencies in the spelling of family names the use of the wildcards ? and * is recommended. Please note that the online catalogue descriptions of most charters acquired after 1878 are currently summary records giving information only about date and places and not persons.

Searching seals

Use keyword or phrase search to find types of motif, or the seals of individuals or organizations. Please note that the sources drawn on in the creation of the catalogue describe motifs according to various, sometimes idiosyncratic conventions.