Joseph Smith of 'The Sugar Loaf', Cannon Street was a wholesale grocer to customers largely in London and the Home Counties.
The South Sea Company was established in 1711, ostensibly to trade with Spanish South America, but, in fact, as a vehicle for managing government debt incurred during the War of the Spanish Succession. Holders of government debt were persuaded to exchange it for shares in the new Company which by 1720 had made only one, moderately successful, trading voyage and held around £20m of government debt. Company directors continued to talk up the potential of the scheme, provoking feverish speculation followed by a share price collapse in which thousands were ruined.
A Parliamentary investigation uncovered massive fraud by the directors, but the South Sea Company itself survived and continued to trade into the 1760s. It retained a role in the management of the National Debt until effectively abolished in 1854.
John David Towse, of Fishmongers' Hall, was an attorney-at-law and (1809-39) clerk to the Fishmongers' Company and also to the Cooks' Company. He was born in 1760, the son of John Towse, deputy clerk to the Fishmongers' Company.
The Union Lighterage Company Limited was founded in 1876 and is listed in London directories at 16/17 Philpot Lane, EC from 1876-1962 and then at Beagle House, Leman Street E1 from 1963-71.
Lighters were flat-bottomed barges used for the shipment or unloading of cargo.
The company was established in 1852 for the purpose of life assurance, annuities and the purchase of reversions. This business was sold to the India and London Life Assurance Society in 1856 and the company was wound up in 1873.
William Parker was a glass seller at 69 Fleet Street from 1763. From 1772-84 the firm was known as William Parker and Company and from 1785-97 as William Parker and Son. In 1798 his son Samuel took over the business and traded as Parker and Perry, glass manufacturers, from 1803-18.
The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers was incorporated by royal charter in 1453 as the "Fraternity or Guild of St George of the Men of the Mystery of Armourers of our City of London", although it was certainly in existence from the early 14th century. Various other Companies were absorbed during their history, including helmet makers (the Heamers Company), armour repairers (the Fourters Company), the Bladesmiths Company and workers in copper and brass.
The Company leased a hall in Coleman Street in the City of London from 1346 and purchased this site in 1428. This hall survived the Great Fire, was rebuilt in 1840 and again survived damage during World War Two. The Armourers and Brasiers' Company had almshouses in Camden Avenue, Camberwell.
The Company received their first charter in 1462. Its members practised barbery (hair cutting and shaving), surgery, bone setting, tooth drawing, bleeding, and the cure of minor maladies. In the 18th century, in accordance with the fashion of the day, barbers also became skilled wig makers. The Fellowship of Surgeons joined with the Company under the provisions of an act of Parliament of 1540 and separated from it again in 1745. Thus the Company was unusual in being governed by both charter and act of Parliament.
Until 1745, the Company took an active part in the development of the surgeon's profession. An anatomy theatre was established at the Hall and the Company was allowed to appoint lecturers in surgery. The Hall is situated in Monkwell Street and the most recent building on the site was opened in 1969.
The makers of brown bread, known as brown bakers, were members of the Bakers' Company until they were granted their own charter, in 1621. They had been meeting in the basement of Founders' Hall, in Lothbury, since 1594 and only ended this arrangement in 1654, when it appears that they were being drawn back into the orbit of the Bakers' Company. This reunion was formally recognised in the charter of 1685.
A Carman was a man a carter or carrier. In 1514 the Fraternity of St Katherine the Virgin and Martyr was formed giving the Carmen a monopoly of plying for hire in the City. They became an independent fellowship in 1668 by an act of Common Council and in 1946 received their charter from George VI. The Carmen were originally carriers of goods, but are now concerned with all aspects of the transport industry. The Company maintains a special relationship with the Royal Corps of Transport.
Large clocks for churches were made by blacksmiths, therefore early clockmakers belonged to the Blacksmiths' Company. A separate Clockmakers Company received their charter in 1631. The Company also has ordinances dating from 1631/2. A prize is given annually to the best horological student.
The Board of Longitude had been established in 1714 by Act of Parliament to award a prize for the reliable judgement of longitude, and John Harrison (with the help of his son William, 1728-1815) completed a number of longitude time keepers and watches to ultimately win the prize.
The Company was granted its first charter in 1415 and had jurisdiction over the manufacture of general cutlery as well as swords and surgical instruments. It occupied a Hall on a site in Cloak Lane from the 1450s until 1882, when the Company removed to new accommodation in Warwick Lane.
The Association of Fellowship Porters was never chartered or incorporated, but existed as an association for members whose duties involved loading and unloading goods in the Docks and their vicinity.
The Company has been in existence from at least 1371 when it separated from the Bowyers' Company (bowyers make bows, while fletchers make arrows). In 1467 the Company received a grant of arms. The Company was founded by prescription and not by grant of charter. By the beginning of the 16th century the Company had a hall in St Mary Axe. Later references to the hall are not complete, but it appears to have been rented out from the 18th century. In 1893 the hall burnt down and was rebuilt. This hall was sold in 1933.
The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London had a charter drawn up in 1635, but this was never enrolled and their operative charter dates from 1664.
The company received its charter of incorporation in 1571, but appears to have been in existence from at least the 14th century as the Guild of St James Garlickhithe. Other than title deeds, however, no records of the guild or company survive before the charter of incorporation in 1571. Joiners make wooden glued joints; while ceilers are wood carvers. The modern Company supports the Building Crafts Training School.
The company received its charter of incorporation in 1677, but had been in existence from at least the 14th century, as the first regulations were put forward in 1356 and Arms granted in 1472. There are, however, very few surviving records of the company before the Great Fire, although wardens' accounts survive from 1620. The company's hall, in Masons' Avenue off Basinghall Street, was leased from 1463 and was purchased by the company in 1563. The hall was destroyed in the Great Fire, and subsequently rebuilt. It was sold by the company in 1865. The modern company includes architects and members of the construction industry. Prizes are given to stonemason apprentices.
There is a reference to a guild of pattenmakers in 1469. A patten was a type of undershoe which was fastened underneath a shoe with a leather strap. A charter was first granted to the company in 1670, and in 1717 it was granted a livery. The trade died out in the 19th century following the paving of streets.
The Company has been in existence from at least the 13th century, receiving charters in 1504, 1665, 1685, 1688 (two) and 1692. The Company also received a grant of arms in 1634. It was responsible for regulation of the trade in rabbits, pigeons, game, poultry and swans.
The Company appears to have used a tenement in Fenchurch Street as a hall from 1610, the premises being sub-let by the Company from 1630/1. The Company subsequently leased a property on the west side of Butcher Hall Lane. This hall was destroyed in the Great Fire. Since then the Company has held meetings at other company halls in the City and various coffee houses. In the period 1767-1951 the Company held meetings at Guildhall.
There are references to "Writers of the Court and Text Letter" in 1357, and the Writers of the Court Letter had their bye-laws by 1374. The charter of the Scriveners' Company, dated 1617, gave them control and administration of their craft, and until the 17th and early 18th centuries scriveners were synonymous with notaries. The majority belonged to the legal and allied professions.
The Worshipful Company of Soapmakers is now defunct and no other records are known to survive.
Tacklehouse porters were employed by the City livery companies to convey goods to and from the waterside tacklehouses in which they allowed their members to store the materials of their trade. Street porters, later known as ticket porters, carried goods about the City, operating from river or roadside stands.
The Society of Tacklehouse and Ticket Porters was a fellowship, brought into being by the City authorities in order to regulate a large, mainly unskilled and intermittently troublesome labour force. Its constitution and activities were governed by ordinances drawn up by the Court of Aldermen in 1609.
The company was granted a charter of incorporation by Charles II on 29 April 1663. It was recognised by the City of London, but without a grant of livery. The Company went into decline during the 19th century, both in membership and financial terms,and finally failed, probably in 1868. There had been an earlier Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers which was granted a charter by Charles I in 1634. Although it was of London and Westminster and England and Wales, meetings were held at Painter Stainers' Hall. However the charter was forfeited during the early 1640s. An earlier Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers of Westminster had been granted a charter in 1619, but had to surrender it fifteen years later. The present-day Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders is not the same Company, but is of recent origin (grant of arms 1956).
The Turners' Company had jurisdiction over producers of all articles of wood turned on lathes, such as bowls, chair legs, and ornaments. They were closely connected with the trade of innkeeping, providing wooden measures and drinking vessels. A charter was first granted to the Company in 1604.
By 1591, the Company had a Hall in Philpot Lane, which was destroyed in the Great Fire, rebuilt shortly afterwards, and finally surrendered in 1737. They later occupied a Hall on College Hill.
There is evidence that the City of London Corporation passed regulations in 1370 governing watermen. In 1585 a grant of arms was made to the Company. The lightermen, who had formerly been members of the Woodmongers' Company, were amalgamated with the watermen in 1700. Watermen were boatmen or licensed wherry-men who were available for hire on the river Thames. Lightermen owned and operated lighters, flat-bottomed barges which were used in 'lightening' or unloading ships that could not be unloaded at a wharf, and also used for transporting goods of any kind.
Almshouses at Penge in Kent were built in 1840-1 on land presented to the Watermen and Lightermen's Company by John Dudin Brown. The almshouses could accommodate sixty residents (retired freemen of the Company). They were closed in 1973. Almshouses at Ditchling in Sussex were founded in 1888 through the gift of William Vokins, a master lighterman.
The documents in this collection all relate to Livery Companies but have a separate provenance to the records of the relevant Company and have therefore been catalogued separately.
The City of London was divided into wards for the purpose of government as early as Norman times. The wards had responsibility to keep the peace, supervise trade and oversee sanitation, and each ward has the right to elect an Alderman and Commoners to sit in the Court of Common Council.
One of the twenty-six wards of the City of London, constituting the area to the north of the River Thames (Bridge Without Ward was in Southwark to the south of the River), between Billingsgate Ward in the east and Dowgate Ward in the west. The ward was associated with the area around London Bridge from a very early period.
The City of London was divided into wards for the purpose of government as early as Norman times. The wards had responsibility to keep the peace, supervise trade and oversee sanitation, and each ward has the right to elect an Alderman and Commoners to sit in the Court of Common Council.
One of the twenty-six wards of the City of London, lying outside the City walls to the west, extending north to the parish of Clerkenwell, south to the Thames and west to the City of Westminster. To the east it adjoins the wards of Farringdon Within and Aldersgate. This ward was formerly part of a single ward of Farringdon until 1393/4, when, due to the increasing population in the area outside the City wall, it became a ward in its own right, and had a separate elected alderman.
The records include a number of the records of the Whitefriars Precinct within the ward of Farringdon Without. The precinct or liberty comprised the site of the former Whitefriars monastery, founded in 1241, strteching from Whitefriars Street east to Temple Lane west, and north from the Thames almost to Fleet Street. The precinct was constituted a civil parish in 1858, although it had been included in Holy Trinity Gough Square for ecclesiasical puposes from 1842.
The City of London was divided into wards for the purpose of government as early as Norman times. The wards had responsibility to keep the peace, supervise trade and oversee sanitation, and each ward has the right to elect an Alderman and Commoners to sit in the Court of Common Council.
One of the twenty-six wards of the City of London, bounded on the north by Aldgate, Lime Street and Bishopsgate wards, west by Bridge Ward, south by Billingsgate and Tower Wards and east by Aldgate Ward. The ward contained seven City parish churches: All Hallows Lombard Street, St Edmund the King and Martyr, St Dionis Backchurch, St Mary Woolnoth, St Gabriel Fenchurch, All Hallows Staining and St Nicholas Acons.
The City of London was divided into wards for the purpose of government as early as Norman times. The wards had responsibility to keep the peace, supervise trade and oversee sanitation, and each ward has the right to elect an Alderman and Commoners to sit in the Court of Common Council.
One of the twenty-six wards of the City of London, lying between Aldgate and Cornhill wards. It contained no City parish churches after the suppression of St Mary Axe and St Augustine Papey.
The County of London Central District Coroner's Office was situated at Manor Place, Paddington Green, W2.
The coronership is an ancient county office concerned originally with pleas of the crown within the county. By 1689 the Coroner's duties had been reduced to the holding of inquests in cases of death under circumstances of suspicion and committing to trial persons against whom verdicts of murder or manslaughter had been returned by the inquest jury. Coroners were also empowered to hold inquests over 'treasure trove' and wrecks.
Under an Act of 1752 (26 Geo II c29) coroners were paid 20/- for every inquisition held and 9d for every mile travelled to view a body. These fees were paid out of the County rates by order of the justices. Coroners returned accounts of inquests held, usually in the form of a list, giving also the mileage travelled and total sum due, which were approved for payment, in Middlesex, by an Accounts Committee. Sometimes inquisitions and witnesses' depositions were returned instead of or in addition to the account.
Coroners were elected by county freeholders (except in certain liberties) and held the office for life. By the Local Government Act 1888 the power to appoint Coroners was transferred to the new County Councils.
Counties were usually divided into districts with a Coroner assigned to each. Sometimes, however, Coroners did act in the district of another Coroner. Coroner's districts changed in size and extent over time, often due to increased population and changes in local government boundaries.
London: The County of London was formed in 1889. At first there was no change to the existing Middlesex Coroners Districts now included, in part, within the new County. However, in 1892 the County was finally divided into districts which took in the former Middlesex parishes plus some from the former counties of Surrey and Kent. The new districts were: Eastern; Western; South Western; North Eastern; Central; Southern; Penge; South Eastern; and four franchise districts: Westminster; Duchy of Lancaster (Savoy/Clapham); Tower Liberty and Borough of Southwark.
In 1894 there were minor boundary changes to the Eastern, North Eastern and Central Districts. In 1900 Penge was transferred to Kent. 1912 saw further boundary changes between districts.
In 1930 the districts were reduced to six: Western; Eastern; Southern; Central; Northern; South Eastern; plus Southwark and Tower Liberty. In 1940 this was reduced to five, absorbing the franchise districts: Western; Northern; Eastern; South Western and South Eastern. In 1943 four districts were formed: Western, Southern; Eastern; Northern. These were reduced in 1956 to Western, Northern, Southern.
For a guide on how to use Coroners' Records and information about access to confidential records please see the hard copy guide in the Information Area or consult a member of staff.
The County of London Eastern District Coroner's Office was at 127 Poplar High Street, E14.
The coronership is an ancient county office concerned originally with pleas of the crown within the county. By 1689 the Coroner's duties had been reduced to the holding of inquests in cases of death under circumstances of suspicion and committing to trial persons against whom verdicts of murder or manslaughter had been returned by the inquest jury. Coroners were also empowered to hold inquests over 'treasure trove' and wrecks.
Under an Act of 1752 (26 Geo II c29) coroners were paid 20/- for every inquisition held and 9d for every mile travelled to view a body. These fees were paid out of the County rates by order of the justices. Coroners returned accounts of inquests held, usually in the form of a list, giving also the mileage travelled and total sum due, which were approved for payment, in Middlesex, by an Accounts Committee. Sometimes inquisitions and witnesses' depositions were returned instead of or in addition to the account.
Coroners were elected by county freeholders (except in certain liberties) and held the office for life. By the Local Government Act 1888 the power to appoint Coroners was transferred to the new County Councils.
Counties were usually divided into districts with a Coroner assigned to each. Sometimes, however, Coroners did act in the district of another Coroner. Coroner's districts changed in size and extent over time, often due to increased population and changes in local government boundaries.
London: The County of London was formed in 1889. At first there was no change to the existing Middlesex Coroners Districts now included, in part, within the new County. However, in 1892 the County was finally divided into districts which took in the former Middlesex parishes plus some from the former counties of Surrey and Kent. The new districts were: Eastern; Western; South Western; North Eastern; Central; Southern; Penge; South Eastern; and four franchise districts: Westminster; Duchy of Lancaster (Savoy/Clapham); Tower Liberty and Borough of Southwark.
In 1894 there were minor boundary changes to the Eastern, North Eastern and Central Districts. In 1900 Penge was transferred to Kent. 1912 saw further boundary changes between districts.
In 1930 the districts were reduced to six: Western; Eastern; Southern; Central; Northern; South Eastern; plus Southwark and Tower Liberty. In 1940 this was reduced to five, absorbing the franchise districts: Western; Northern; Eastern; South Western and South Eastern. In 1943 four districts were formed: Western, Southern; Eastern; Northern. These were reduced in 1956 to Western, Northern, Southern.
For a guide on how to use Coroners' Records and information about access to confidential records please see the hard copy guide in the Information Area or consult a member of staff.
The County of London Northern District Coroner's Office was based at Saint Pancras Coroner's Court, Camley Street, NW1.
The coronership is an ancient county office concerned originally with pleas of the crown within the county. By 1689 the Coroner's duties had been reduced to the holding of inquests in cases of death under circumstances of suspicion and committing to trial persons against whom verdicts of murder or manslaughter had been returned by the inquest jury. Coroners were also empowered to hold inquests over 'treasure trove' and wrecks.
Under an Act of 1752 (26 Geo II c29) coroners were paid 20/- for every inquisition held and 9d for every mile travelled to view a body. These fees were paid out of the County rates by order of the justices. Coroners returned accounts of inquests held, usually in the form of a list, giving also the mileage travelled and total sum due, which were approved for payment, in Middlesex, by an Accounts Committee. Sometimes inquisitions and witnesses' depositions were returned instead of or in addition to the account.
Coroners were elected by county freeholders (except in certain liberties) and held the office for life. By the Local Government Act 1888 the power to appoint Coroners was transferred to the new County Councils.
Counties were usually divided into districts with a Coroner assigned to each. Sometimes, however, Coroners did act in the district of another Coroner. Coroner's districts changed in size and extent over time, often due to increased population and changes in local government boundaries.
London: The County of London was formed in 1889. At first there was no change to the existing Middlesex Coroners Districts now included, in part, within the new County. However, in 1892 the County was finally divided into districts which took in the former Middlesex parishes plus some from the former counties of Surrey and Kent. The new districts were: Eastern; Western; South Western; North Eastern; Central; Southern; Penge; South Eastern; and four franchise districts: Westminster; Duchy of Lancaster (Savoy/Clapham); Tower Liberty and Borough of Southwark.
In 1894 there were minor boundary changes to the Eastern, North Eastern and Central Districts. In 1900 Penge was transferred to Kent. 1912 saw further boundary changes between districts.
In 1930 the districts were reduced to six: Western; Eastern; Southern; Central; Northern; South Eastern; plus Southwark and Tower Liberty. In 1940 this was reduced to five, absorbing the franchise districts: Western; Northern; Eastern; South Western and South Eastern. In 1943 four districts were formed: Western, Southern; Eastern; Northern. These were reduced in 1956 to Western, Northern, Southern.
For a guide on how to use Coroners' Records and information about access to confidential records please see the hard copy guide in the Information Area or consult a member of staff.
The County of London Southern District Coroner's Office was based at Saint George's Churchyard, Borough High Street, SE1.
The coronership is an ancient county office concerned originally with pleas of the crown within the county. By 1689 the Coroner's duties had been reduced to the holding of inquests in cases of death under circumstances of suspicion and committing to trial persons against whom verdicts of murder or manslaughter had been returned by the inquest jury. Coroners were also empowered to hold inquests over 'treasure trove' and wrecks.
Under an Act of 1752 (26 Geo II c29) coroners were paid 20/- for every inquisition held and 9d for every mile travelled to view a body. These fees were paid out of the County rates by order of the justices. Coroners returned accounts of inquests held, usually in the form of a list, giving also the mileage travelled and total sum due, which were approved for payment, in Middlesex, by an Accounts Committee. Sometimes inquisitions and witnesses' depositions were returned instead of or in addition to the account.
Coroners were elected by county freeholders (except in certain liberties) and held the office for life. By the Local Government Act 1888 the power to appoint Coroners was transferred to the new County Councils.
Counties were usually divided into districts with a Coroner assigned to each. Sometimes, however, Coroners did act in the district of another Coroner. Coroner's districts changed in size and extent over time, often due to increased population and changes in local government boundaries.
London: The County of London was formed in 1889. At first there was no change to the existing Middlesex Coroners Districts now included, in part, within the new County. However, in 1892 the County was finally divided into districts which took in the former Middlesex parishes plus some from the former counties of Surrey and Kent. The new districts were: Eastern; Western; South Western; North Eastern; Central; Southern; Penge; South Eastern; and four franchise districts: Westminster; Duchy of Lancaster (Savoy/Clapham); Tower Liberty and Borough of Southwark.
In 1894 there were minor boundary changes to the Eastern, North Eastern and Central Districts. In 1900 Penge was transferred to Kent. 1912 saw further boundary changes between districts.
In 1930 the districts were reduced to six: Western; Eastern; Southern; Central; Northern; South Eastern; plus Southwark and Tower Liberty. In 1940 this was reduced to five, absorbing the franchise districts: Western; Northern; Eastern; South Western and South Eastern. In 1943 four districts were formed: Western, Southern; Eastern; Northern. These were reduced in 1956 to Western, Northern, Southern.
For a guide on how to use Coroners' Records and information about access to confidential records please see the hard copy guide in the Information Area or consult a member of staff.
The Greater London Western District Coroner's Court was based at Hammersmith Coroner's Court, 77 Fulham Palace Road, W6. The jurisdiction of the court covered the boroughs of Kingston upon Thames, Ealing, Hammersmith, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond.
The coronership is an ancient county office concerned originally with pleas of the crown within the county. By 1689 the Coroner's duties had been reduced to the holding of inquests in cases of death under circumstances of suspicion and committing to trial persons against whom verdicts of murder or manslaughter had been returned by the inquest jury. Coroners were also empowered to hold inquests over 'treasure trove' and wrecks.
Under an Act of 1752 (26 Geo II c29) coroners were paid 20/- for every inquisition held and 9d for every mile travelled to view a body. These fees were paid out of the County rates by order of the justices. Coroners returned accounts of inquests held, usually in the form of a list, giving also the mileage travelled and total sum due, which were approved for payment, in Middlesex, by an Accounts Committee. Sometimes inquisitions and witnesses' depositions were returned instead of or in addition to the account.
Coroners were elected by county freeholders (except in certain liberties) and held the office for life. By the Local Government Act 1888 the power to appoint Coroners was transferred to the new County Councils.
Counties were usually divided into districts with a Coroner assigned to each. Sometimes, however, Coroners did act in the district of another Coroner. Coroner's districts changed in size and extent over time, often due to increased population and changes in local government boundaries.
For a guide on how to use Coroners' Records and information about access to confidential records please see the hard copy guide in the Information Area or consult a member of staff.
The Manor of Fulham was held of the Bishop of London from the year 691. It covered all of what is now Hammersmith and Fulham, Acton, Ealing and Finchley.
Fulham Infirmary began life as the Fulham Union Infirmary in 1884 and was based in St Dunstan's Road. At the beginning of World War One, wounded soldiers from the Ypres battleground were brought to Fulham. In 1915 the War Office took over the workhouse and Infirmary - as it did with several other Poor Law institutions - and they became the Fulham Military Hospital. In 1925 it was renamed St Christopher's Hospital but one month later the decision was reversed and the name became 'Fulham Hospital' (not to be confused with the Fulham Hospital in Seagrave Road, which had become the Western Fever Hospital in 1885).
Information from Lost Hospitals of London http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/index.html, accessed July 2015.
This circuit was formed in 1936 by an amalgamation of Walham Green Church from the Chelsea (ex-Wesleyan) Circuit with the Fulham (ex-United Methodist) Circuit, which included Walham Grove Church, Munster Road Church, Bethel Chapel and Ebenezer Chapel. Munster Road transferred to the Chiswick and Munster Park Circuit in 1943; Ebenezer and Bethel were closed following war damage during the Second World War. Walham Green Church was condemned as unsafe and closed in 1965. It was resolved that the congregations at Walham Green and Walham Grove should unite to form the Fulham Central Methodist Church, which would meet at Walham Grove until new premises were ready. Fulham Central Methodist Church was opened in June 1971.
The Hammersmith Literary and Scientific Society was founded in November 1887. Meetings were held in the Vestry Hall Broadway. Its first President was Major General Goldsworth.
Until 1834 Hammersmith was a hamlet within the parish of Fulham, the mother church being All Saints. In 1629 the leading inhabitants of Hammersmith, including the Earl of Mulgrave and Nicholas Crispe, successfully petitioned the Bishop of London for a chapel of ease to be built. The chapel was concentrated by Bishop Laud, later Archbishop of Canterbury, on 7 June 1631, and a perpetual curacy was established. In 1834 Hammersmith became a distinct and separate parish and the chapel of St Paul became the parish church.
In 1978 proposals were implemented for a Local Ecumenical Project in Hammersmith. On the closure of the Broadway United Reform church building St Paul's became the home of a united congregation of Anglican and United Reform Church members.
From the seventeenth century the Hammersmith "side" of the parish was administered separately from the Fulham "side"; each side appointing its own officers and levying its own rates. The Hammersmith curate kept his own registers of baptisms marriages and burials but the entries were also recorded in the registers of All Saints Fulham until 1834.
By the 1860s the chapel was too small for its congregation and a public subscription was raised to restore and enlarge the building. The West London Observer of 20 February 1864 reported the proposed alterations which were completed in the following year. In 1882 plans were drawn up for a new church on the same site. It was built in stages the first section being consecrated on 13 October 1883. Major road construction in the second half of the twentieth century resulted in the loss of part of the churchyard the church hall and St Paul's Church Schools which were relocated to Worlidge Street.
Wandsworth Circuit was created in 1864 out of the old Hammersmith Circuit. It comprised churches in Putney, Wandsworth High Street and Wandsworth Bridge Road. In 1951 it was renamed the Wandsworth and Fulham circuit and was joined by Methodist churches in Munster Park and Fulham. In 1968 a new church was opened in Roehampton. The circuit closed in 1969 and the constituent churches redistributed to the Hammersmith, Richmond and Hounslow, and Broomwood and Clapham circuits.
The Hammersmith Circuit was constituted in 1969 by the union of Askew Road Church and Old Oak Church, both of which had formerly belonged to the Bayswater Circuit, Munster Park Church from the Wandsworth and Fulham Circuit, and Rivercourt Church and Shepherds Bush Road Church, which had previously formed the Rivercourt and Shepherds Bush Road Circuit.
The medieval diocese of Rochester consisted of Kent west of the Medway. It was divided into the rural deaneries of Rochester, Dartford and Malling, which together formed the archdeaconry of Rochester. The rural deanery of Shoreham was a peculiar jurisdiction of the archbishop of Canterbury. The boundaries of the diocese were radically changed in 1845 when the rural deaneries of Dartford, Malling and Shoreham, with the except for a few parishes, were absorbed into the diocese of Canterbury, and the rural deanery of Rochester with a few neighbouring parishes were joined with the counties of Essex and Hertfordshire to form a new diocese of Rochester. There were further boundary alterations in 1877, when Essex and Hertfordshire were formed into the new diocese of St. Albans, and Rochester comprised the north-western part of Kent together with London south of the Thames. In 1905 the London section of the diocese was separated to form a new diocese of Southwark and the boundaries between the diocese of Canterbury and Rochester adjusted so that since that date the diocese has covered roughly the same area as that which it covered in 1845.
The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Church of England Diocese of Rochester is the second oldest Cathedral Foundation in England and was founded in 604 by Bishop Justus. The present building was built in 1077 by Bishop Gundolf, who also designed the Tower of London and Rochester Castle.
Parishes in east and mid Surrey in the Dioceses of London and Winchester were transferred to Rochester in 1878.
Enfield was the second-largest parish in Middlesex, covering 12,460 acres. The boundaries of the parish were marked by Cheshunt, Northaw, South Mimms, Monken Hadley, East Barnet and Edmonton, and by the river Lea.
By 1691 each of the four wards of the parish had a representative churchwarden. Vestry meetings were held monthly, usually in a room at the church, chaired by the vicar. From around 1580 an overseer of the poor was also appointed for each ward, and a beadle was appointed from 1750. The workhouse was situated at Chase Side although some of the poor were farmed out and children were apprenticed. A surveyor of highways is first mentioned in 1705 and by the end of the century there was a surveyor for each ward. In 1836 Enfield joined Edmonton Poor Law Union and used their facilities; the workhouse at Chase Side was converted into a school.
The church of Saint Andrew is situated on Market Place, at the centre of Enfield. The building dates to the 14th and 15th centuries but has been heavily restored over the years, and was extended in 1824.
Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 241-243 (available online).
Sunbury on Thames parish covered 2,658 acres in 1930. It was bordered by the River Thames, the River Ash and a lesser stream. In 1908 the parish was enlarged to include Feltham Hill, Shepperton, Littleton and some of Hampton.
The Vestry of Sunbury was usually composed of between 6 and 12 people, responsible for poor relief and other parish business. 5 cottages were used as poor-houses in addition to a larger house used as a workhouse.
The church of Saint Mary stood on the south side of the village. Parts of the medieval church survive; the whole building was restored in 1863.
Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962).
The parish of Pinner was originally a chapelry within the parish of Harrow which was a peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1546 the advowson and tithes passed to Christ Church, Oxford. Pinner was served by the Vicar of Harrow or his curate. During the 17th century benefactions of land established an income for a curate at Pinner. Although Pinner achieved some measure of independence from Harrow by the end of the 17th century, it was not until 1766 after a grant from the Queen Anne's Bounty, that Pinner became an independent parish.
A chapel was in existence at Pinner by 1234-40 and the plan and part of the North East wall of the Church may be 13th century. However, most of the building dates from the early 14th century as the chapel was rebuilt before its consecration in 1321. The tower was added in the 15th century and alterations and repairs were carried out in the 19th and earlier 20th centuries. The renovation of 1880 was carried out by JL Pearson.
Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971). Available online.
Cranford parish covered around 737 acres, surrounded by the Crane river, Hounslow Heath and the Bath Road. In 1930 the civil parish became part of the urban district of Hayes and Harlington. The Cranford Vestry appears to have been a small body, usually attended by 3 to 5 persons and meeting twice a year. Their major concerns were rates, poor relief and the election of parish officers, including churchwardens, an overseer, surveyors and a constable. A small workhouse was constructed in 1776. A parish council was formed in 1895 and was largely concerned with election of parish officers and the disposal of sewage.
A priest is first mentioned at Cranford in 1086. The advowson was held by the Knights Templars and the Hospitallers, and subsequently by the king. The church of Saint Dunstan is small; the chancel and tower date from the 15th century, while the nave was destroyed by fire in 1710 and rebuilt in 1716. Restorations were carried out in 1895.
Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962). Available online.
The parish of Edgware lay on the northern boundary of Middlesex, covering 2,089 acres before 1931. The old parish was bordered on the north by Elstree, on the west by Little Stanmore, and on the east by Hendon. At various times the parish has also included parts of Little Stanmore and Elstree. The church is first mentioned in the mid 13th century, when it was stated to be appropriated to the use of the Knights Hospitallers. From the 14th century the advowson belonged to the owner of the manor of Edgware Boys. The church of Saint Margaret is situated on Station Road near the junction with High Street. The earliest surviving parts of the building date to the 15th century and has been rebuilt several times during its history, in 1763, 1845 and 1908, with enlargements added in 1927.
The parish vestry, first mentioned in 1817, was concerned mainly with poor relief which took the form of allowance payments as there was no workhouse. Able-bodied poor were set to work in gravel pits or on road maintenance.
Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 151-166. Available online.
The parish of Hanworth is situated to the east of Feltham. The church of Saint George stands near the ruins of Hanworth Castle. The first recorded mention of the church is dated 1293. The advowson was a grant of the manor, while the living is a rectory. Adam de Brome, the founder of Oriel College, Oxford, was rector of Hanworth in 1315.
From: 'Spelthorne Hundred: Hanworth', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 2: General; Ashford, East Bedfont with Hatton, Feltham, Hampton with Hampton Wick, Hanworth, Laleham, Littleton (1911), pp. 391-396. Available online.
The parish of Laleham was situated in the county of Middlesex, although it was later transferred to Surrey. Land at Laleham was granted to Westminster Abbey by King Edward the Confessor. It is probable that the Abbey was responsible for building Laleham Church. Laleham was a vicarage in the gift of the Abbot and Convent of Westminster until 1448 when it became a chapel of ease to Staines. The small tithes were settled on the Vicar of Staines who was to provide a fit chaplain. After the dissolution of the monasteries the livings of Staines and Laleham were granted by the King to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. In 1649, 1660 and 1663 Sir Thomas Reynell, Lord of the Manor of Laleham, presented to the vicarage of Laleham, but by 1683 it was once more a chapel of ease to Staines. In 1858 Laleham became a district perpetual curacy. The Earls of Lucan had purchased the Manor of Laleham in 1803 and in 1883 acquired the patronage of the living.
The parish of Stanwell was situated in the west of Middlesex. It is bordered by Staines, the River Colne, East Bedfont and Hounslow Heath. In 1930 the parish was 3,934 acres in size. The first endowment of a church in Stanwell was probably in 1204. By around 1250 the rectory of Stanwell had become a sinecure, and by 1254 there was a vicarage. In 1415 the advowson was given to Chertsey Abbey. This was surrendered to the Crown in 1537 and the advowson has remained the property of the Crown since then, although it was often leased out. The oldest parts of the church of Saint Mary date to the 13th century, while further additions date to the 14th century and restorations were carried out in 1863. The graveyard was mentioned in 1337 but was closed for burials in 1895. The church ran missions in Hithermoor Road and West Bedfont.
Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 33-49. Available online.