† paper-office Obs.
An office or place where documents were kept: cf. paper n. 7. a. The older name for the state paper office; spec. the place near Whitehall where the state papers used to be kept. b. A place attached to the King's (Queen's) Bench where legal documents were kept.
| 1637 Wotton Will, Item I leave his said Majesty all the Papers..that perchance his Majesty will think fit to be preserved in his Paper-Office. 1670 Evelyn Diary 21 Oct., Mr. Jos. Williamson, Master of the Paper Office. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I. s.v., All..Letters of Intelligence, and many other Publick Papers communicated to the King's Council, or the two Secretaries of State, are afterwards transmitted to the Paper-Office, wherein they are all disposed in a place of good Security and Convenience within the King's Royal Palace. 1707 Chamberlayne's St. Eng. iii. 692 The Custos Brevium, Nisi Prius, and the Paper Offices, are in the Queen's-Bench Office in the Temple. 1707 in Hearne Collect. 9 Aug. (O.H.S.) II. 32 The Keeper of y⊇ Paper-Office at Whitehall. ? 1782 in 30th Rep. Dep. Kpr. App. 270 Paper Office, Application for the old office adjoining to Whitehall Chapel. |