Chest hidden for 400 years with papers dating to Henry VIII found in Nottinghamshire village

Historic documents that were left hidden in a Nottinghamshire village for more than 400 years are to be translated.

Villagers in Upper Broughton discovered a chest in an outhouse last year filled with hundreds of documents that date back to the 16th Century.

The bundle of papers are written on velum and parchment in Old English and Latin and are in good condition.

Many contain references to names and trades of local people, titles and wills, and are now being painstakingly translated to record for future posterity.

Cllr Tina Combellack, who represents the Nevile and Langar ward, said: “This was an astonishing find and villagers have worked so hard to start to piece together what the documents are and just how far back they go.”

The village’s history group are photographing the items and logging the information with a view any document can be fully transcribed at a later date for those looking into family history before the items are sent to the Nottinghamshire Archives later this year.

The Upper Broughton History Project said the documents were found in a large metal trunk with red wax seals and that some appear to date back to the time of Henry VIII.

Cllr Combellack has donated part of her Rushcliffe Borough Council Community Support Scheme grant to help fund the translations.

The scheme allows every councillor £1,000 to spend each year on small projects in their ward or community.

She added: “So far they have found documents going back to the 1600s and one which appeared to refer to a King Henry so it’s possible they date as far back as the 16th Century.

“A lot of the work, photographing and translating, has been completed and there was a thank you gathering and lunch earlier this month in the village hall to reflect the work that has taken place.”