Last updated 13:38, Thursday, 17 April 2008

DEAR Edward, you’ve got the job. Yours, Henry VIII.

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Fascinating facts: David Bowcock, assistant county archivist, looking at a map of Carlisle by George Smith from 1746

This letter of 1542 – slightly more elegantly phrased – was sent by Henry VIII confirming that Edward Aglionby had been appointed Captain of Carlisle Citadel.

The ancient job description is just one of the fascinating artifacts held in Cumbria’s main archive.

It sets out details of Mr Aglionby’s work running the Citadel for a wage of two shillings a year.

At his command would be six gunners, eight footsoldiers and a gatekeeper – all earning a lot less.

The county archive is in the process of being moved from Carlisle Castle to new state-of-the-art premises at Petteril Bank House and researchers are taking the opportunity to show off some of their most prized exhibits.

David Bowcock, assistant county archivist, said:

“This is a particularly interesting time to delve into the archive because it was 850 years ago that Carlisle became a city. We are researching the exact dates but we believe it happened between January and June.

“It is our job to keep and preserve the history of Carlisle and make sure it is accessible to the public – we want people to come and have a look.

“When we move to our new building we will have room to display some of the treasures in semi-permanent exhibitions.”

Also in the collection is the original charter of 1316 given to the city of Carlisle.

The parchment was given to the city by Edward II and awarded his fisheries – the River Eden – and fields and vacant buildings to the people of Carlisle.

Unusually, the first illuminated letter doesn’t include a picture of the monarch. Instead it shows the people of Carlisle fighting the Scots.

There is a case report from Cumbria Quarter Sessions dated 1746 from Susannah Pattinson, of Botchergate.

Mrs Pattinson complains that Jacobite soldiers defending Carlisle misfired and destroyed her house with a shell. She asked the quarter session to investigate and put in a claim for compensation.

The archive attracts thousands of local history enthusiasts every year to use its maps and parish records.

Mr Bowcock said: “I would estimate that 60 percent of the people that use the archive are researching their family history.

“Others look at property history, and things like transport and mines.

“We are a very popular service – one of the most used archives in the country.”

Christine Broadbent, from Ousby, is using the archive to research the history of her house.

Christine said: “I have made it all the way back to the 1660s.

“Most of the people who lived in the house were molecatchers.

“There is the odd success story though. During the 1800s one of the family made it to Oxford University and later became the headteacher of Coventry Grammar School.

“The research has been fascinating and the archive has been really useful. “It is going to be wonderful when it moves to the new building – there are some real treasures here.”