The Archives of the Valuation of Ireland, 1830-65

Book excerpt: This guide introduces researchers to the archives of the Valuation Office, first set up under an Act of 1826 with the purpose of establishing a systematic valuation of property for taxation purposes. The Valuation Office was one of the great administrative enterprises of 19th-century Ireland and, with modifications, it carries out the same functions almost 200 years later. This is an invaluable source of information about properties, providing a continuous record of the names of owners and tenants, as well as data on the property. This guide provides an overview of the archives of the Valuation Office, which are held between the Valuation Office and the National Archives.