IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 CLC/L/GG
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GOLDSMITHS
Date(s): 1728-1991?
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 61 production units
Name of creator(s): Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Goldsmiths' Company is one of the twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. It received its first charter in 1327 from Edward III. In 1339 a house in Foster Lane was purchased which became the site of the Company's hall. A second royal charter was granted in 1393. The hall was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666 and rebuilt, and then rebuilt again in 1835. The Company had responsibility for the quality of gold and silver items. After 1478 these had to be marked in the Goldsmith's Hall (the origin of the term 'hallmark'). The Company founded Goldsmith's College.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, 1728-1991, mainly comprising legal documents and other records relating to the Hamsell and Birchden estates in Sussex. Also Clerk's general account books.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
To assist the user, the catalogue has been arranged in sections each with an archival classification code as follows: A: Constitutional records, B: Court records, C: Membership records; D: Financial records, E: Trade records, F: Clerk's records, G: Charities and estates. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries. For further information please see LMA Research Guide "Consulting Archives at Guildhall Library", available at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright: Depositor.
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
A small proportion of records have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since the 1950s. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
N.B. THE MAIN ARCHIVE OF THE GOLDSMITHS' COMPANY IS RETAINED BY THE COMPANY AT THEIR HALL.
Publication note:
For further information relating to Livery Companies, particularly using the company records for family history, please see Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Livery Company Membership Guide" and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Leaflet Guides to Records: Searching for Members or those apprenticed to Members of City of London Livery Companies" (both available online).
For a general introduction to the history of the City of London Livery Companies please see entry in The London Encyclopaedia, ed Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: Oct-09