Catalogue description Central Registry

The Central Registry files are generally described by their original title and are in all cases arranged in order of the original Skelmersdale file reference number, which is quoted in round brackets as the last line of the entry, with the prefix 'P.F.' denoting a private file. An asterisk before the reference number indicates those files identified by Corporation staff as being of a 'sensitive' nature, and where a longer closure period than 30 years may well be appropriate. Note that the descriptions given in the catalogue generally follow the original file title even if this is not strictly accurate; for example, the change in responsibility from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to the Department of the Environment c.1971 is not always reflected.

Central Registry files were selected for deposit in two separate exercises. Those selected by Corporation staff as being generally representative are catalogued in this section, with the exception of files relating to compulsory purchase orders, for which see NTSK 8/1. Those files selected after the Corporation's dissolution by Record Office and Commission staff to document the chosen housing and industrial projects are catalogued in the sections relating to those projects (NTSK 9-24); the criteria employed in the latter exercise is explained at the start of the Special Projects section (NTSK 9).

To ascertain which files could be considered as generally representative, the Corporation staff looked at files on the so-called Administration files register and the Legal files register. Copies of both registers (NTSK 26/4/8 and NTSK 26/4/9 respectively) were supplied to the Record Office, and on each the files shown as deleted were either retained as working records for the Commission or destroyed on the grounds that they were not worthy of preservation. Where files with apparently interesting titles were destroyed, the record cards held at the Central Registry were annotated to explain the background.

While a large number of 'core material' files were selected from those listed on the Administration files register to illustrate the overall policies of the Corporation, the sample method was favoured in respect of the files on the Legal files register to show particular aspects of the Corporation's work. In particular, sample files were selected to illustrate the capping of mineshafts, casual lettings, disposals of industrial and other sites and sales of Corporation houses.