Introduction
In looking at the Valuation Revision Books, please not that we have already described previously how Griffith’s Valuation is the primary valuation for Ireland. (See: Using Griffith’s Valuation to find where people lived) The valuation was conducted between 1848 – 1864. It’s worth to Irish genealogists cannot be overestimated.
Valuation Revision Books
The Valuation Revision Books followed on from Griffiths Valuation and they record the ownership and values of property annually from 1864 up until the early 1930’s.
Each year the valuers reported any changes to the occupiers, or to the size or improvements in a property. The alterations are recorded in different coloured ink, one colour for each year. These ‘crossings out’ and differences in handwriting can sometimes make the entries difficult to decipher.
Using the Valuation Office Revision Books
To search the Revision Books you need to have a good idea of the townland, village or city where your ancestors were resident at the time. Most rural volumes have an index page at the front, this will list the townlands contained in each book.
While searching, note that a page number will be given but due to the number of alterations over the years this is now more of a guide than an exact page reference.
Almost all of the Belfast volumes lack an index, so you must go review the book street by street. Given that the streets are listed by area not alphabetically), this can be very time-consuming especially without some knowledge of the geography & areas.
Benefits of Reviewing the Valuation Office Revision Book
In addition to enabling you to follow the history of a property as it passed from generation to generation, these records also show when a farm or house passed out of family hands.
They can also map the development of a town and population growth or decline in a certain area.
The records provide some of the information that has been lost due to the lack of census material and are an important tool for family historians.
How to access the Valuation Revision Books
Northern Ireland Valuation Books
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland holds the Valuation Books for the North. To links below provide details on accessing and using these free records:
- NIDirect – About Valuation Revision Books
- NIDirect – Searching Valuation Revision Books
- Public Records Office of Northern Ireland – Online Search of Valuation Revision Books (VAL 12B)
Republic of Ireland Valuation Office Revision Books
Revision Books for the twenty-six counties of Ireland are not yet digitised. They can be inspected in person at the Valuation Office in Dublin – www.valoff.ie
Those who cannot attend the Dublin Valuation Office in person but with an interest in seeing a Revision Book for a particular townland in the 26 counties of Ireland can order copies of the required book (for a fee) from the Timeline Genealogy Clerk service using the link below
See Also:
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