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London Metropolitan Archives

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: CITY OF LONDON FREEMEN'S (ORPHANS) SCHOOL


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): COL/CC/CLFO

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: CITY OF LONDON FREEMEN'S (ORPHANS) SCHOOL

Date(s): 1850-1969

Level of description: sub-fonds

Extent: 7.6 linear metres

Name of creator(s): Corporation of London

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The concept of the Court of Common Council grew from the ancient custom of the Folkmoot, when the assent of the citizens to important acts was obtained. This custom was continued by the Mayor who consulted the Commons several times during the 13th century. From 1376 the assembly began to meet regularly and was referred to as the Common Council. It was decided that the Council should be made up of persons elected from each Ward. By 1384 a permanent Common Council chosen by the citizens was established for all time. The Council assumed legislative functions and adopted financial powers, confirmed by Charters of 1377 and 1383. The Council has often used these powers to amend the civic constitution, regulate the election of Lord Mayor and other officials, and amend the functions of the City courts. The Council was judged so successful in the conduct of its duties that it was the only Corporation unreformed by Parliament following the Municipal Corporations Commission report of 1837, while the Corporation Inquiry Commission of 1854 suggested only minor reforms. The work of the Council is conducted by a number of committees, while the whole Council has the right to approve policy, confirm major decisions and sanction expenditure. The committees handle many aspects of the running of the City including land and estates, finance and valuation, open spaces, street improvement and town planning, public health, police, Port of London, civil defence, airports, libraries, markets, education, and law. The Town Clerk has held responsibility for recording the minutes of the Council and its committees since 1274.

The City of London Freemen's School was established in Brixton in 1854 as the Freemen's Orphan School. It was run by the Orphans School Committee until 1926 when the name was changed to the Freemen's School Committee. This amalgamated with the City of London Schools Committee in 1970 as the City of London Education Committee. In April 1973 this Committee was replaced by the Schools Committee and the Board of Governors took over the running of the school. The Freemen's School Committee also administered the Freemen's Houses, also known as the Reform or London Almshouses, and Rogers Almshouses.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the City of London Freemen's (Orphans) School Committee, Court of Common Council, including minute books, 1850-1969; committee papers, 1850-1957; copy reports of Headmaster to Freeman's School Committee, 1931-1940; standing orders of Committee, rules and regulations of the Freemen's School and the London Almshouses, 1853-1939 (with gaps) and designs for and printed papers concerning the New London Almshouses, including site plan of the City Almshouses, Brixton, 1884.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

In sections according to catalogue.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright City of London.

Physical characteristics:

Fit

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Corporation of London Records Office.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

For Corporation of London records relating to schools and education, see CLA/053: City of London School, CLA/054: City of London School for Girls, CLA/055: City of London Freemen's School, CLA/056: Guildhall School of Music and Drama, CLA/057: Morgan family, CLA/058: Dorothea Crompton, CLA/059: Maurice Cole, CLA/060: Madeline Payne, CLA/062: Gresham College and Royal Exchange, CLA/063: Education, CLA/067: Christ's Hospital, COL/CC/CLE: Court of Common Council City of London Education Committee, COL/CC/CLF: Board of Governors, City of London Freemen's School, COL/CC/CLFO: Court of Common Council City of London Freemen's Orphans School, COL/CC/CLG: Board of Governors, City of London School for Girls, COL/CC/CLS: Board of Governors, City of London School, COL/CC/CLSB: Court of Common Council City of London School Building Committee, COL/CC/CLSG: Court of Common Council City of London School for Girls Building Committee, COL/CC/CLSS: Court of Common Council City of London Schools Committee, COL/CC/EDC: Court of Common Council Education Committee, COL/CC/EEC: Court of Common Council Elementary Education Committee, COL/CC/GSMD: Board of Governors, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, COL/CC/LCE: Local Centres Examinations Board Executive Committee, COL/CC/MDC: Court of Common Council Music and Drama Committee, COL/CC/SCH: Court of Common Council City of London School Committee, COL/CC/SCS: Court of Common Council Schools Special Reference Committee, COL/CCS/SO: Comptroller and City Solicitor: Solicitor, COL/CHD/IC: Chamberlain's Department: Institutions and Courts, COL/CHD/TF: Chamberlain's Department: Trust and other Funds and COL/PL, COL/PLD/PL, COL/SVD/PL and COL/TSD/AD for building plans.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: February 2009


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Administrative history | Administration | Organisation and management
Schools | Educational institutions
Education
Educational administration

Personal names

Corporate names
City of London Freemen's (Orphans) School Committee | Court of Common Council | Corporation of London x Orphans School Committee
City of London Freemen's Houses | Corporation of London x London Almshouses x Freemen's Houses
City of London Freemens School | Corporation of London x City of London Freemens Orphan School
Rogers' Almshouses | Corporation of London

Places
Ashtead | Surrey | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Brixton | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
City of London | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Lambeth