In 1552 the unreliable "Declarations of the State of the Treasury" were replaced by declarations made by the Clerk of the Pells,[2] Up to the reign of King James I entries recording Treasury transactions were made upon rolls, or pells,[3] from the Latin pellis meaning "skin, hide, pelt".
The Pell Office was situated on the eastern side of Westminster Hall until the beginning of the 19th century.
The office was damp and was liable to destruction by fire due to the many wooden partitions within it and the many hearths used for heating.
In 1822 they were transferred to attic storage in Somerset House and were "heaped in some places up to the ceiling and in an exceedingly dirty state".
They were then transferred to the new Public Record Office in Chancery Lane, from where they have more recently been moved to the National Archives site at Kew.