This series represents a remarkably complete and fascinatingly detailed record of the Society’s expenditure over a period of several centuries. The volumes, most of which correspond to the year of office of a Treasurer of the Inn, contain either original or copies of receipts and bills, chronologically arranged, for a wide range of transactions, including sums spent on building works and decoration, tradesmen’s bills, attorneys' bills, payments for the purchase of silver, pictures, furniture, books and stationery, servants' wages, the cook’s bill, payments for commons, charges for supplies such as ale, wine and food, for plants for the garden, utilities and a great deal more.
While superficially mundane and routine in nature, these records paint a detailed picture of the day to day life of the Inn, as well as expanding our understanding of significant events including the construction of the new Library in the 1860s and the acquisition of artefacts such as paintings and silverware. The volumes, which are mostly handwritten and not, at this stage, searchable, are organised by date, and are in many cases indexed by name of tradesmen or other recipients of payment.
