Since July, Linda Bankier, archivist, and Barbara Herdman, chairman of Friends of Berwick and District Museum and Archives (FBDMA), have been approaching funding bodies, businesses, groups and individuals to ask them to help bring back to Berwick the important set of documents.

The documents, which record a variety of things related to the town, will be invaluable for research and education on the town. The documents include information on the building of the Elizabethan Walls, the repair of medieval fortifications, and also life in the garrison.

Linda told the Advertiser: "I am delighted that we are now in a position to purchase the Berwick documents and am grateful to all those who have contributed and pledged money towards the appeal.

"The documents will add to our knowledge of Berwick at a very important time in its history when it was not only of local but national importance. They will also compliment the documents we already have relating to that period in the Borough Archives.

"Once we have the documents, the Record Office and the Friends hope to transcribe them and arrange for them to be digitized. We will also be putting together an exhibition on the documents which can be circulated throughout the borough."

Barbara and her husband Peter were recently on a holiday to London and were able to view the documents in the antiquarian bookshop where they are currently held. Barbara took some photographs of the documents, from which Linda was able to tell that the documents would prove to be an excellent reference on what was going on in Berwick in the 16th century.

In early December, Barbara received a call saying that the final £1000 required was available and in the new year FBDMA will be calling in all pledges from the generous people of Berwick - although there have been offers from as far afield as Australia.

Once the money has be collected there will be final negotiations with the seller and the logistics of receiving and housing the precious items will be looked into.

The documents set to be bought include The Berwick Roll which is the account roll of Sir William Ingleby, 'Treasourer of Barwick and paymaster of the Woorkes and fortificacons thear.' It covers the period 1557 to 1560 and lists money paid to soldiers in the Garrison, payments for carriage of Ordnance and Munition redemption, and recompense for houses taken down and defaced in Berwick for the enlarging of the fortifications.

Other documents include a payment book made by Sir Richard Bunney, which lists people receiving payment for their services in the town, including the Captain, Porter, Horsemen, Footmen and Gunners, and other documents which lists the names, daily rate and pay of the Master Mason, Master Carpenter and other workmen for the construction of the new fortifications in Berwick.

Unusually for the north east of England, the Berwick Borough Archives, preserved in the Berwick Record Office, contain an exceptionally good series of 16th century documents relating to the town. These help build up a picture of life at the time and include the Rules of the Garrison, 1560 – 1577, the Common Council Minute Book, 1573 – 1603 and the Bailiffs' Court book, 1568 – 1573.