<P> In 1940, after damage sustained in the 193rd air raid on Central London, HM Land Registry was evacuated to the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth so that it could carry on its normal business . In 1950, eighty - eight years after its creation, HM Land Registry registered its one millionth title . </P> <P> The growth in property ownership after the war years meant that the potential number of properties to be registered increased dramatically . This, in turn, slowed down the rate of land registration . To deal with the increasing workload, an office was opened in Tunbridge Wells in 1955 and a further office at Lytham St. Annes in 1957 . In 1963, 101 years after the registry started, it registered its two millionth title . </P> <P> Theodore Ruoff, who was appointed Chief Land Registrar in 1963, laid down the three fundamental principles of Land Registration: </P> <Ul> <Li> The Mirror principle--the register of title should reflect, accurately and completely, and beyond all argument, the facts that are material to the title </Li> <Li> The Curtain principle--the register should be the sole and definitive source of information for proposing purchasers, but should not reveal sensitive information </Li> <Li> The Insurance principle--if, as a result of human error, the title is proved to be defective in any way, then the person or persons suffering loss as a result, must be able to claim compensation </Li> </Ul>

Where are most official documents relating to the ownership of land now stored