Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1893-1961 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
8.3 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Chamber of a city is the place where the funds of the corporation are kept and where moneys due are received - a kind of treasury. The Chamber is run by the Chamberlain, an officer who receives the rents and revenues owed to the corporation. The origin of the Chamber of London is obscure, but as soon as the citizens were sufficiently united to hold lands and tenements in common an officer must have been appointed to collect rents and disburse income for public welfare. The Chamber is first mentioned in 1275 and in the following year Stephen de Mundene is named as City Chamberlain. At first the Chamberlain was chosen by the Mayor and Aldermen, but by 1319 elections were introduced and the officer was chosen by the liverymen in Common Hall.
The Chamberlain's duties combined municipal finance with public banking. His main duty was as treasurer or banker of the City of London with custody of the monies of the Corporation, called the City's Cash, and other funds. Former Chamberlains were able to keep for themselves profits derived from interest on the cash! The Chamberlain also collects the rents of all Corporation properties and makes payments on behalf of the Corporation including salaries and pensions. He also invests money, is responsible for insurance, the preparation of tax returns and production of reports and statistics.
Additionally, the Chamberlain was the Accountant General of the Court of Orphans (see CLA/002) and held all money belonging to the orphans on which he allowed interest. For this purpose the Chamberlain held a Common Seal, first mentioned in 1396. He was also the occasional collector of taxes for the London area, particularly those granted to the City by the monarchy in return for loans. The Coal Duty for reconstruction of public buildings after the Great Fire was paid into the Chamber, as was any money borrowed by the City. The Chamberlain was also treasurer of any charitable funds organised by the City.
Repository
Archival history
COL/CHD/PN 1893-1961 Collection 8.3 linear metres Corporation of London
The Chamber of a city is the place where the funds of the corporation are kept and where moneys due are received - a kind of treasury. The Chamber is run by the Chamberlain, an officer who receives the rents and revenues owed to the corporation. The origin of the Chamber of London is obscure, but as soon as the citizens were sufficiently united to hold lands and tenements in common an officer must have been appointed to collect rents and disburse income for public welfare. The Chamber is first mentioned in 1275 and in the following year Stephen de Mundene is named as City Chamberlain. At first the Chamberlain was chosen by the Mayor and Aldermen, but by 1319 elections were introduced and the officer was chosen by the liverymen in Common Hall.
The Chamberlain's duties combined municipal finance with public banking. His main duty was as treasurer or banker of the City of London with custody of the monies of the Corporation, called the City's Cash, and other funds. Former Chamberlains were able to keep for themselves profits derived from interest on the cash! The Chamberlain also collects the rents of all Corporation properties and makes payments on behalf of the Corporation including salaries and pensions. He also invests money, is responsible for insurance, the preparation of tax returns and production of reports and statistics.
Additionally, the Chamberlain was the Accountant General of the Court of Orphans (see CLA/002) and held all money belonging to the orphans on which he allowed interest. For this purpose the Chamberlain held a Common Seal, first mentioned in 1396. He was also the occasional collector of taxes for the London area, particularly those granted to the City by the monarchy in return for loans. The Coal Duty for reconstruction of public buildings after the Great Fire was paid into the Chamber, as was any money borrowed by the City. The Chamberlain was also treasurer of any charitable funds organised by the City.
Corporation of London Records Office.
Records of the Chamberlain's Department regarding pensions, including cash books, journals, acquittance books, registers of contributions and collection books for the officer's fund, 1893-1922; applications by new staff to become contributors to the pension fund, 1897-1922; cash books, collection books, acquittance books, pensions books and ledgers for the officer's superannuation fund, 1913-1983 (closed from 1932 onwards); cash books, collection books and acquittance books for the servant's fund, 1913-1926; reports of the Solicitor to the Officers and Clerks Committee on the amendment of the rules of the Officers Pension Funds, 1908; report of the Town Clerk on the establishment of Pension Funds for Officers employed in the Public Health and Valuation and Rating Departments under the City of London Various Powers Act, 1912; City of London Police pensions book, 1947-1961 (closed until 2037) and check sheets, police superannuation fund, 1941-1959 (closed until 2035).
In sections according to catalogue.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Copyright: City of London.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For Corporation of London records relating to staffing, see COL/CC/ESC: Establishment Committee, COL/CC/JTA: Joint Advisory Committee, COL/CC/JTC: Joint Committee, COL/CC/OCC: Officers and Clerks Committee, COL/CC/OCL: Officers and Clerks Committee (1815-1834), COL/CC/MIN: Committees, COL/CC/PVC: Privileges Committee, COL/CC/ROC: Revenue and Officers Committee, COL/CC/SGP: Select General Purposes (Porters) Committee, COL/CC/SLC: Special (Labour) Committee, COL/CC/STF: Staff Committee, COL/CHD/PN: Chamberlain's Department: Pensions and COL/OF: Officers.
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. February 2009 City Chamberlain , Corporation of London Government Local government Public administration Municipal government Social services Social security Pensions Information sources Documents Financial records Officers and Clerks Committee , Court of Common Council , Corporation of London Town Clerk , Corporation of London City of London Police Force , Corporation of London Europe City of London London England UK Western Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Corporation of London Records Office.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Chamberlain's Department regarding pensions, including cash books, journals, acquittance books, registers of contributions and collection books for the officer's fund, 1893-1922; applications by new staff to become contributors to the pension fund, 1897-1922; cash books, collection books, acquittance books, pensions books and ledgers for the officer's superannuation fund, 1913-1983 (closed from 1932 onwards); cash books, collection books and acquittance books for the servant's fund, 1913-1926; reports of the Solicitor to the Officers and Clerks Committee on the amendment of the rules of the Officers Pension Funds, 1908; report of the Town Clerk on the establishment of Pension Funds for Officers employed in the Public Health and Valuation and Rating Departments under the City of London Various Powers Act, 1912; City of London Police pensions book, 1947-1961 (closed until 2037) and check sheets, police superannuation fund, 1941-1959 (closed until 2035).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In sections according to catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: City of London.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
For Corporation of London records relating to staffing, see COL/CC/ESC: Establishment Committee, COL/CC/JTA: Joint Advisory Committee, COL/CC/JTC: Joint Committee, COL/CC/OCC: Officers and Clerks Committee, COL/CC/OCL: Officers and Clerks Committee (1815-1834), COL/CC/MIN: Committees, COL/CC/PVC: Privileges Committee, COL/CC/ROC: Revenue and Officers Committee, COL/CC/SGP: Select General Purposes (Porters) Committee, COL/CC/SLC: Special (Labour) Committee, COL/CC/STF: Staff Committee, COL/CHD/PN: Chamberlain's Department: Pensions and COL/OF: Officers.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
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.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English