Bills and vouchers

DRc/FTv

1552, 1555, 1674-1867, 1896-1950

series

At the end of each financial year, the 25 November, the church treasurer handed over to the Dean his account and all bills receipted during the previous financial year. These had both already been checked by the auditor, and their being handed over was a symbol of their completeness. In general most bills appear to have been paid soon after they were received, but some were carried on from year to year and paid perhaps at the end of five years.

Bundles typically include: bills for tradesmen's work, including repairs and work carried out in the Cathedral, receipts for payment of bishops' xenia for visitation, bills for liturgical and sacramental supplies, bills for candles and tapers, bills for communion wine, bills for stationery and books, bills for giving of sermons, ringing the bells on anniversaries, lists of quitrents and tenants, receipts for litigation and legal opinions, accounts of alms distributed, receipts for payments of Land Tax, receipts for water supplies, parish clergy pension receipts, bills for the school, receipts for alms disbursed, receipts for payments to bedesmen [beadsmen], receipts for apprenticeship agreements for children apprenticed out by the Dean and Chapter, receipts for officers' salaries and receipts relating to the maintenance of children (foundlings) in the care of the Cathedral. Manorial quitrent accounts and bills for entertainment and provisions were not presented with the treasurer's account, but separately with the receiver's book (see DRc/FR/Q).

Most bills are still in their original bundles, generally one for each year. DRc/FTv/230/1-240 consists of bills which have become separated from their original bundles, sorted into categories at a later date, and in some cases stuck onto backing paper for easier storage.