The papers are very extensive though there are some lacunae, probably attributable to Chain's many changes of workplace. The early biographical period is sparsely documented, there are sporadic gaps in the correspondence files, and there is no original documentation of the penicillin research at Oxford (although there are many historical accounts and much correspondence about the history of penicillin). The surviving biographical material provides documentation of the arrangements for Chain to live and work in Britain, later honours and awards and his musical interests, and family correspondence, photographs and press-cuttings. There are very substantial records of his later career at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and Imperial College, London, including his continuing contributions to biochemical problems such as carbohydrate metabolism, ergot alkaloids, edible proteins and aeration studies. The Imperial College material also contains records of the creation, administration, finance and architectural design of the Biochemistry Department, and developments in the Department after Chain's statutory retirement in 1973. Additional information about Chain's research is available in the documentation of his very extensive consultancy agreements and collaborative work with industrial firms such as Astra, Beechams and Rank Hovis McDougall, and records relating to government, grant-giving and charitable bodies such as the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research Campaign and Medical Research Council which contributed to the funding of his research. There is much material on Chain's lectures, addresses and broadcasts, and on his extensive travel on visits and conferences, which includes a substantial number of unpublished talks.

An exceptional feature of the Chain papers is the documentation of the large number of Israel and Jewish organisations with which he was associated, especially the Weizmann Institute of Science, where he was a governor for many years and had at one time considered taking up an appointment.

The Company papers contain correspondence, press cuttings, articles, statistics and plans mainly concerning the 1930 scheme which was defeated in the House of Commons by seven votes. Unfortunately most of the company’s early papers were destroyed in a fire in their office at London Bridge station in 1941.

Premises records of Charles Beasley Limited, brewers, comprising purchase journals (repairs).

Records of Chartham Park Convalescent Home, comprising minutes of the Board of Governors and House Committee, 1950-1962, papers relating to the closure of the Home, 1961-1962 and lease of premises at Chartham Park, Lingfield, with plan, 1945.

Records of the Department of Chemistry of Imperial College, 1880-1991, including articles, press cuttings, reminiscences of old students, 1912-1991; regulations, 1901-1925; examination papers, 1886-1972; correspondence concerning equipment and test certificates, 1905-1933; notebooks of students' laboratory work, 1890-1903; notes on advanced organic chemistry lectures, 1914-1915; practical chemistry, 1894-1896; physical chemistry lectures, 1905; inorganic chemistry, 1894-1895; correspondence of staff, including Professor Sir William Augustus Tilden, 1907-1909; Professor James Charles Philip, 1909-1934; Professor Sir Thomas Edward Thorpe, 1909-1921; Professor H B Baker, 1912-1932; Martha Annie Whiteley, 1918-1934; Professor Friedrich Adolf Paneth, 1933-1939; correspondence relating to departmental reorganisation, 1939, and reconstruction of advanced analytical laboratory, 1938-1939; papers relating to laboratory work, 1925-1963, including sample analysis, 1925-1963; Rectors' papers relating to the department, 1950-1981, including correspondence relating to a Rockefeller grant, 1950-1957; appointments and future of the department, 1975-1981; staff attendance book, 1909; correspondence relating to war emergencies, 1938-1961; papers, including minutes, relating to the National Joint Committee on recruitment and training of science laboratory technicians, 1951-1957; papers of the Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 1907-1921; examination lists and results, 1907-1924; annual dinner menu, 1931, and list of members, 1947, of the 31 Club; analytical laboratory students records, 1910-1925; inventories of platinum apparatus and platinum, 1920-[1967]; second and third year student records and reports, 1939, 1940 (KC);
papers relating to Agricultural Chemistry, 1880-1955, including notes on Henry Tanner's lectures, 1880; correspondence concerning the course, 1935-1955 (KCA);
papers relating to the Chemical Engineering Department, 1910-1985, including press cuttings and departmental history from 1912-1939, [1960]; departmental annual and research reports, 1926-1991; postgraduate courses, 1910-1991; Professors' records, 1945-1956; students' records, 1919-1945; lists of students, 1936-1944, 1947-1950; research assistants, 1939-1941; correspondence of staff notably Professor William Arthur Bone, 1911-1936; Professor John William Hinchley, 1919-1932; Professor Sir Alfred Egerton, 1936-1946; correspondence relating to the establishment and organisation of the department, 1911-1942; papers relating to the department building, 1911-1935, including correspondence with the architect, 1911-1914; specifications and agreements, 1913-1930; estimates and expenditure for equipment, 1911-1950; correspondence relating to the Courtauld Trust endowment for a Chair of Chemical Engineering, 1944-1959; with Radiation House relating to a fellowship, 1938-1961; Rectors' correspondence with Heads of the Department, 1957-1981; British Iron and Steel Research Association research plans and press cuttings, 1947-1966; papers relating to Health Physics (Radiation Protection) summer schools, 1960-1980 (KCT).

Papers of Donald Piers Chesworth, [1906]-1991, comprising family papers, including photograph album of scout camp attended by his father, Frederick Chesworth, [1929-1936]; diaries of his mother, Daisy Chesworth, 1942-1981, giving brief entries; family holiday photograph album, [1936], stamp albums; files relating to Daisy Chesworth's death and estate, 1987;

volume of notes and lectures relating to the National Fire Service, [1939-1945];
papers relating to Chesworth's standing as a Parliamentary candidate, 1945, 1950, including posters, press cuttings, photographs with Clement Attlee campaigning in Rangoon; notes on rallies of Oswald Mosley (standing for Parliament in North Kensington), 1959;
correspondence, reports and papers relating to Notting Hill housing and social conditions, [1957-1963], including interviews with tenants and local people, housing waiting lists, minutes of Notting Hill Social Council, 1963; population survey of Kensington, [1961]; rent tribunals; papers, probably preparatory notes for a book by Chesworth, "Anatomy of Notting Hill"; paper entitled "Community Struggles in North Kensington 1966-1974";
correspondence and papers of the Association of Neighbourhood Councils, 1971, (a local government pressure group), particularly with MPs;
correspondence, reports, photographs and papers relating to Chesworth's work with War on Want, 1963-1986, including the Mahiwa project, Tanzania, 1970-1973; Bangladesh War of Independence, 1971;
minutes and papers relating to the World Political Action Trust, 1970-1973;
reports and papers relating to wage fixing in Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika), [1961-1967]; reports and correspondence, 1962-1989, relating to the Sugar Wages Council and education in Mauritius; correspondence and papers relating to the assassination of the vice-president of Zanzibar, 1973 (Zanzibar Treason Trial);
papers relating to the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) Labour group, including correspondence relating to secondary schools, 1973; papers relating to his work in Tower Hamlets, including Tower Hamlets Training Forum, [1962], 1986-1989; Tower Hamlets ILEA Tertiary Education Council, [1987-1990]; Spitalfields Heritage Centre, 1983-1991; papers relating to the opening of the Thames Children's Beach (Tower Hill), [1980s];
correspondence, reports and papers relating to Chesworth's work as Warden of Toynbee Hall, [1906-1987], including papers of the Management Committee, articles on the history of the Hall, annual reports, [1970-1988];
papers and correspondence relating to his work as Consultant to Kumagai Gumi UK, 1987-1991.

Records of the Children's Opthalmic Convalescent Home comprising annual reports, 1930-1934.

Records of the parish of Christ Church, Notting Hill, including registers of baptisms, marriages and banns; church services registers; curates' licences; papers relating to parish boundaries; papers relating to the income of the parish including the glebe, pew rents and the benefice; papers relating to church buildings including the vicarage; minute books of the Parochial Church Council; and financial accounts.

Records of the Church Commissioners, 1814-1907, including a glebe exchange award, Ruislip, with map [a glebe is a portion of land assigned to a clergyman as part of his benefice]; documents relating to altered apportionments of corn rents, Ruislip; plans of the Parish of Enfield and the Parish of Edmonton; architect's drawings of houses and shops-cum-residences on Hornsey Clebe Estate; "Plan of Land near Harrow on the Hill, adjoining the Station on the London and North Western Railway, showing the proposed arrangement of the Sites for Villas, the Roads, etc." and plan of the District of the Hornsey Local Board.

Papers relating to the administration and management of various London churches, 1394-1985, including general reports, correspondence, and printed acts; papers relating to individual parish churches, including Saint Andrew Undershaft, Saint Bartholomews, Saint Bartholomew the Great, Saint Benet Link, Saint Botolph (without) Aldgate, Saint Dunstans, Saint George Southwark, Saint Giles, Cripplegate, Saint John the Evangelist, Brownswood Park, Saint Katharine by the Tower, Saint Lawrence Jewry, Saint Maquis, Saint Margaret Pattens, Saint Peter Cornhill, Saint Martin's le Grand, Saint Olave Old Jury, Saint Mary Aldermanbury, Saint Mary, Colechurch, Saint Mary-le-Bow, Saint Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street, Saint Olave, Hart Street, Saint Olaves, Silver Street, Saint Pancras, Saint Peter's, Cornhill, Saint Saviour, Southwark, Saint Stephens Walbrook and Saint Brides; papers relating to burial grounds and reports, correspondence, minutes, orders of service and programmes, staff lists, account books, orders, inventories and agreements from Saint Paul's Cathedral.

Records relating to the City and Guilds College (formerly the Central Institution of the City and Guilds Institute), 1876-1995, comprising a history, 1896; printed reports and schemes for the new institution, 1876-1884; speeches and accounts of the opening of the Central Institution, 1884; correspondence relating to the Jubilee, 1933-1935; programmes of the Central Institution, 1884-1931; letter books of the Secretary to the City and Guilds College Delegacy, 1911-1927; papers relating to the City and Guilds College Centenary, 1885-1985, and visitor's book (FC);
minutes of the Board of Studies, 1885-1913; report on equipment, 1889 (FE);
papers relating to the Engineering Board, notably minutes, 1915-1965, 1980-1984; correspondence and papers, 1911-1935; conference on postgraduate courses, 1962-1965; Chairman's notes and correspondence, 1955-1961; correspondence of the Research Committee, 1932-1951; senior appointments, 1913-1933 (FF);
papers of the Delegacy, notably minutes and reports, annual reports of the Dean of the Central Institution, 1911-1968; correspondence, 1910-1937, including research grants, 1915-1921; appointment of members, 1936-1970; minutes and accounts of the Finance and Special Committees, 1911-1924; correspondence and reports of the Organisation Committee, 1930-1931; chairmans' notes and correspondence, 1954-1968, donations, 1934-1936 (FG);
papers relating to links with Imperial College and the University of London, notably history of the City and Guilds London Institute, 1910; joint meetings and committee relating to the Delegacy, 1907-1910, 1955; correspondence of the Delegacy concerning the University of London, 1911-1921; degree and diploma examinations, 1926-1930; suspension of the Delegacy, 1966-1976 (FH);
papers relating to staff roles, including staff conference with Imperial College, 1911-1912; powers and duties of the Rector, 1918 and Deanship, 1931-1936; organisation and administration, 1918; papers relating to the Chemistry department, comprising regulations, examination papers and course notes of Professor Henry Edward Armstrong, 1884-1897; papers relating to the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department, comprising notebook of Professor William Ernest Dalby on courses, 1904-1908; notes on lectures given by Professor William Cawthorne Unwin, 1885-1887; lecture and laboratory notebooks of C E H Salmon, 1894-1896; examination papers, 1913; correspondence relating to the Unwin Library, 1933-1934; papers relating to the Mechanics and Mathematics department, comprising notes on lectures given by Professor Olaus Henrici, 1885-1889; examination papers, 1888-1929; papers relating to the Electrical Engineering department, comprising notes on lectures given by Professor William Edward Ayrton, 1885-1887, notebooks of C Percy Taylor, 1892-1895 (FK);
records relating to students, 1884-1913 (FP); matriculation and entrance examination results; 1905-1938, examination results, 1887-1913 (FQ); registers of students, 1884-1948, tuition fees ledgers, 1911-1918, attendance registers, 1919-1940 (FR); Central Gazette and other journals, 1889-1906 (FSG).

Papers of the City Lands Estates, including legal and financial papers, 1669-1758; contracts, 1779-1838; grant books, 1589-1923; leases and deeds, 1629-1842; papers relating to individual properties, and papers relating to the Conduit Mead estate; 1628-1988.

Records of the City Of London Lieutenancy, 1537-1987, including Lieutenancy commissions; lists of Commissioners; copy commissions; papers of the Court of Lieutenancy, including Committee of Lieutenancy minutes and reports; financial accounts; standing orders; attendance books; Court papers and correspondence; minute books of the Committee for Defaulters; enquiries, reports and proposals; Acts of Parliament concerning the Militia; press cuttings; monthly returns of officers, non-commissioned officers, and drummers; papers relating to the lease and use of artillery ground; papers concerning buildings and maintenance, including site plans; military and naval papers; general administrative papers and papers relating to the history of the Lieutenancy.

Records relating to the Department of Civil Engineering of Imperial College, 1928-1981, comprising correspondence relating to the establishment and organisation of a four year course in Engineering, 1977-1981 (KE); departmental history from 1884-1956; lists of students, 1929-1931; laboratory work, 1928-1943; correspondence, 1933-1981, including administration, 1933-1940, donation of records by Captain WN McClean, 1954-1968; Rector's correspondence, 1955-1981 (KEC);
papers relating to the Highway Engineering Department, 1928-1970, including correspondence relating to the Maybury Chair of Highway Engineering, 1929-1934; minutes of the Highway Engineering Advisory Committee, 1936-1944; departmental reports and correspondence, 1928-1943 (KECA); papers relating to the Building Science Course, 1929-1953, including correspondence concerning the establishment of a postgraduate course, 1929-1933; establishment of a Chair at the City and Guilds College, 1942-1947 (KECB); papers relating to Concrete Technology and Structures, 1944-1974, including minutes and reports of the Advisory Committee, 1944-1974; correspondence with the Cement Makers' Federation, 1949-1964 (KECC);
papers relating to the London Centre for Marine Structures and Materials, 1974-1978, including proposal for an offshore structure centre (KECM); leaflets on Engineering Hydrology courses, 1955, (KECH); papers relating to Public Health Engineering, 1947-1967, including correspondence concerning Rockefeller bursaries and Readership, 1947-1951; minutes of the Advisory Committee, 1949-1967 (KECP); leaflets on Soil Mechanics courses, 1967 (KECS).

This plan showing the proposed widening of Lower Richmond Road in 1897. The plan itself is 90 by 50.8 centimetres and is ink and colour on glazed cotton. It is signed and dated by the surveyor J.C. Radford.

Records of Ernest Clarke, estate agent and surveyor, including auction sale plan of a property in Hampton; plan of premises at 19 King Street, Twickenham, 1868 and 1929; plans of premises in the borough of Enfield, 1905-1931; site plans of Barts Estate, Kenton Lane, Kenton; printed plan of Downs Farm Estate, Canon Lane, Pinner, 1930; plan of pair of houses on plots 62 and 63, Ferrers Avenue, West Drayton; blueprint of 10 houses at Yiewsley, 1932 and Ordnance Survey maps, 1864-1913.

Minutes and presented papers of meetings of the London County Council, 1889-1965. Also minutes and presented papers of London County Council Committees and Sub-Committees, as follows:

Air Raid Precautions Committee

Appeals Committee

Asylums Committee

Bridges Committee

Building Acts Committee

Central Public Health and Medical Services Committee

Children's Committee

Civil Defence Committee

Contagious Diseases Committee

Corporate Property and Endowments Committee

Education Committee

Emergency Committee

Entertainments Committee

Establishments Committee

Evacuation Committee

Finance Committee

Fire Brigade Committee

General Purposes Committee

Health Committee

Highways Committee

Historical Buildings and Records Committee

Housing Committee

Improvements Committee

Industrial Schools Committee

Inebriates Committee

Local Government Committee

Main Drainage Committee

Midwives Committee

New and Expanding Towns Committee

Parks and Open Spaces Committee

Parks (special entertainments) Committee

Parliamentary Committee

Public Assistance Committee

Public Control Committee

Public Health Committee

Restaurants and Catering Committee

Rivers Committee

Roads Committee

Smallholdings Committee

Stores Committee

Theatres Committee

Town Planning Committee

Water Supply Committee

Welfare Committee

Welfare of the Blind Committee

Works Committee

Please note that copies of these minutes and papers are on open access in the Information Area.

Minutes and presented papers of meetings of the Middlesex County Council, 1889-1965. Also minutes and presented papers of Middlesex County Council Committees, as follows:

Aerodromes and Development Committee

Agriculture Committee

Air Raid Precautions Committee

Asylums Committee

Buildings Committee

Children's Committee

Civil Defence Committee

Coordinating Committee

Costs and Policy Review Committee

Diseases of Animals Committee

Drainage Committee

Education Committee

Emergency Committee

Establishment Committee

Estates Committee

Finance Committee

Fire Brigade Committee

General Purposes Committee

Highways Committee

Housing Committee

Industrial Schools Committee

Land Committee

Licensing Committee

Light Railways Committee

Local Government Committee

Luncheon Club Committee

Maternity Committee

Office Accommodation Committee

Parliamentary Committee

Planning Committee

Public Health Committee

Rates Committee

Rivers Committee

Selection Committee

Small Dwellings Committee

Small Holdings Committee

Staff Committee

Standing Orders Committee

Supplies Committee

Taxation Committee

Valuation Committee

War Committee

Welfare Committee

Papers relating to Standing Committees of Bedford College, including Minutes, correspondence and papers of the Finance Committee, 1889-1985; Minutes of the Financial Management and Investment Sub-Committee, 1982-1985; Minutes of the Policy and Estimates Committee, 1972-1979; Minutes, correspondence and papers of the Standing Committee on Laboratory Expenditure, 1944-1985; Minutes of the Committee of Education, 1868-1909; Minutes, 1903-1907, and reports, 1937, of the Physical Education Committee; Minutes of the Professors' Meetings, 1881-1909; Minutes of the Loan Fund Committee for the Training of Teachers, 1892-1896.

Papers relating to the Building Committees of Bedford College, including Minutes and papers of the Premises Committee, 1908-1915; Minutes and papers of the South Villa Demolition Committee, 1919-1921; Minutes of the Building Fund Committee, 1908-1914; Minutes of the Building Committee, 1926-1932; Minutes of the Committee for Alterations to the Library, 1931-1932; Minutes and papers of the Reconstruction Committee, 1943-1967, and its Sub-Committee, 1947-1949; Minutes of the Buildings Committee, 1954-1978; Minutes of the House Committee, 1876-1975; Minutes and reports of the Household Management Committee, 1972-1978; Minutes of the Estate Management Committee, 1978-1983.

Papers relating to Special and Ad Hoc Committees of Bedford College, including papers of a Special Committee, 1878; papers of a Special (Treasury Grant) Committee, 1905-1906; papers of a Special Joint Committee (Acland Committee), 1901; papers of a Special Committee on Organisation and Finance, 1901-1919; and papers of a Special Committee on the Admission of Men, 1963-1964; papers of a Joint Committee of Governors and Council to Review the Charter and Statutes, 1966; papers relating to the Mallaby Report on machinery of government and the Ward-Jackson Review of Committee Structure, 1968-1969; papers of a joint Committee of the Councils of Bedford and Westfield Colleges, 1979-1982; papers of a Joint Planning Committee of King's College London and Bedford College, 1981; papers of a Joint Planning Committee of Royal Holloway and Bedford Colleges, 1982; papers of Joint Meetings of the Councils of Bedford and Royal Holloway Colleges, 1983-1985; papers and correspondence relating to the merger of Royal Holloway and Bedford Colleges, 1982-1983.

Records of the Housing Department, Corporation of London, including leaflets produced by the Department; reports on housing in the City of London, 1933 and 1965; Housing Department quarterly performance review, 1992-1995; notes on the history of the Corporation's housing activities, 1980; papers regarding artisan's dwellings built by the Corporation under the Artisan's and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act 1875, including developments at Petticoat Square, 1884; papers regarding war damage repairs at Avondale Square, 1940-1945; papers regarding the Cosser Street redevelopment, 1970s; competition to design new housing at Golden Lane, EC, 1951-1952; illustrated brochure describing the Golden Lane development; papers regarding the William Blake estate, 1985 and 1994; notes taken during a case in arbitration between the Corporation of London and contractors, Ilford Housing Scheme, 1923-1924; report on housing for the aged poor at Isledon House, 1951-1953; papers regarding visit of Russian Housing Mission to the City of London, 1955; papers on the public enquiry regarding Shepherdess Walk, 1924-1925; lists of the numbers of houses in each ward, 1772, 1784 and 1858; demolition orders made under the Housing Acts, 1936-1949 and notices and orders regarding curious houses, 1761-1828.

Contract, dated 28 Dec 1670, containing an undertaking by John Brown to repair the stables he rented from Thomas Panton, and to stop up the water course from the horse pond in Round Mill Yard. Signed and sealed by John Brown.

Papers relating to a bazaar held to raise funds for the Convalescent Home for Children, Highgate.

Records of the Corporation of London, 1067-2004, including records of the Court of Aldermen (COL/CA) and committees of the Court of Aldermen including Administration of Justice Committee, (COL/CA/AJA), Finance Committee (COL/CA/FNA), Gaol Committee (COL/CA/GAC), General Purposes Committee (COL/CA/GPA), Livery Cloth Committee (COL/CA/LCA), Magistracy Committee (COL/CA/MGA), Prisons Committee (COL/CA/PCA), Police Committee (COL/CA/PLA), Privileges Committee (COL/CA/PVA), Parliamentary Committee (COL/CA/PYA), Whole Committee (COL/CA/WCA) and various other committees (COL/CA/MIN).

Records of the Court of Common Council (COL/CC) and committees of the Court of Common Council including Affairs of the Corporation Committee (COL/CC/ACC), Administration of Justice Committee (COL/CC/AJC), Airport Committee (COL/CC/APC), Assessment (City Of London Union) Committee (COL/CC/ASC), Accounts Committee (COL/CC/AUC), Blackfriars Bridge (Building) Committee (COL/CC/BBB), Blackfriars Bridge (Repairing) Committee (COL/CC/BBR), Bunhill Fields Committee (COL/CC/BFC), Bridge House Committee (COL/CC/BHC), Bridge House Trust Committee (COL/CC/BHT), Billingsgate and Leadenhall Markets Committee (COL/CC/BLM), Barbican Arts Centre Joint Working Party (Arts Centre) (COL/CC/BRA), Barbican Centre Committee (COL/CC/BRC), Barbican Development Committee (COL/CC/BRD), Barbican Residential Committee (COL/CC/BRR), Barbican Contracts Working Party (COL/CC/BRW), Coal, Corn and Finance Committee (COL/CC/CCF), Coal and Corn Committee (COL/CC/CCN), Coal, Corn and Rates Finance Committee (COL/CC/CCR), Civil Defence Committee (COL/CC/CDC), Civil Defence (Emergency) Committee (COL/CC/CDE), Central Markets Committee (COL/CC/CEM), City of London (Arizona) Corporation (COL/CC/CLA), City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee (COL/CC/CLBH), City Lands Committee (COL/CC/CLC), City of London Education Committee (COL/CC/CLE), Board of Governors, City of London Freemen's School (COL/CC/CLF), City of London Freemen's (Orphans) School (COL/CC/CLFO), Board of Governors, City of London School for Girls (COL/CC/CLG), Board Of Governors, City of London School (COL/CC/CLS), City Of London School Building Committee (COL/CC/CLSB), City Of London School For Girls Committee (COL/CC/CLSG), City Of London Schools Committee (COL/CC/CLSS), Computer Sub-Committee (COL/CC/CMB), Computer Steering Group Committee (COL/CC/CMG), County Purposes Committee (COL/CC/CPC), Enquiries into the Constitution of the Corporation (COL/CC/CPR), Court Of Requests Committee (COL/CC/CRC), Central Criminal Court (Extension) Co mmittee (COL/CC/CRE), Central Criminal Court: Newson Smith Committee (COL/CC/CRN), Consolidated Committee (COL/CC/CTC), Cattle Markets Committee (COL/CC/CTM), Elementary Education Committee (COL/CC/EEC), Epping Forest And Open Spaces Committee (COL/CC/EFC), Emanuel Hospital Committee (COL/CC/EHC), Establishment Committee (COL/CC/ESC), Freedom Applications Committee (COL/CC/FAC), Food Control Committee (COL/CC/FCC), Freedom Committee (19th Century) (COL/CC/FDC), Finance Committee (COL/CC/FNC), Gaol Expenses and Finance Committee (COL/CC/FNG), Special Finance/Select Finance or Finance Committee (COL/CC/FNS), Fish Supply Committee (COL/CC/FSC), Guildhall Improvement Committee (COL/CC/GHI), Guildhall Yard East Building Committee (COL/CC/GHY), General Purposes Committee (COL/CC/GPC), Gresham Committee (City Side) (COL/CC/GRC), Joint Gresham Committee (COL/CC/GRJ), Gas/Gas And Water Committee (COL/CC/GWC), Guildhall Yard East Committee (COL/CC/GYE), City Of London Board Of Health (COL/CC/HEB), Health Committee (COL/CC/HEC), Housing Committee (COL/CC/HGC), Hampstead Heath Management Committee (COL/CC/HHM), Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee (COL/CC/HWJ), Improvements Committee (Corporation) (COL/CC/IMP), Improvements And Town Planning Committee (C.S/Phd) (COL/CC/ITP), Joint Advisory Committee (COL/CC/JTA), Joint Bridge House Estates and Improvements Committee (COL/CC/JTB), Joint Committee (COL/CC/JTC), Joint (P.H.D) Committee (COL/CC/JTP), Joint Bridge House Estates and Special Committee (COL/CC/JTS), Joint Bridge House Estates and Thames Navigation and Port of London Committee (COL/CC/JTT), Litter Act Committee (COL/CC/LAC), London Bridge Approaches Committee (COL/CC/LBA), London Bridge Committee (COL/CC/LBC), London Bridge Improvements Committee (COL/CC/LBI), Local Centres Examinations Board Executive Committee (COL/CC/LCE), Local Food Control Committee (COL/CC/LFC), Local Government and Taxation Committee (COL/CC/LGT), Libraries, Guildhall Art Gallery and Arch ives Committee (COL/CC/LIB), Law Bills Committee (COL/CC/LLC), Library And Museum Committee (COL/CC/LMC), Law, [Parliamentary] and City Courts Committee (COL/CC/LPC), Lunatic Asylum Committee (COL/CC/LUC), Music and Drama Committee (COL/CC/MDC), Metage on Grain Committee (COL/CC/MGC), Committees (COL/CC/MIN), Museum of London Board of Governors (COL/CC/MLB), Midsummer Prize (later Prize) Committee (COL/CC/MPC), Markets Improvement Committee (COL/CC/MRI), Joint Markets Advisory Committee (COL/CC/MRJ), Markets Committee (COL/CC/MRK), Militia Committee (COL/CC/MTC), Mayoralty 800th Anniversary Committee (COL/CC/MYA), Mayoralty Visits Committee (COL/CC/MYC), Officers and Clerks Committee (COL/CC/OCC), Officers and Clerks Committee, 1815-1834 (COL/CC/OCL), Public Health Committee (COL/CC/PBC), Prisons Committee (COL/CC/PCC), Port Health and Environmental Services Committee (COL/CC/PHE), Port and City of London Health and Social Services Committee (COL/CC/PHS), Police Committee (COL/CC/PLC), Port of London Health Committee (COL/CC/PLH), Port of London Committee (COL/CC/PNC), Policy and Resources Committee (COL/CC/PRC), Planning and Transportation Committee (COL/CC/PTC), Planning and Transportation Committee: Trees, Gardens And Open Spaces Sub-Committee (COL/CC/PTCG), Planning And Transportation Committee: Traffic Management And Road Safety Sub-Committee (COL/CC/PTCT), Privileges Committee (COL/CC/PVC), Parliamentary Committee (COL/CC/PYC), Rates Finance Committee (COL/CC/RFC), Revenue And Officers Committee (COL/CC/ROC), Special Bridge Or Subway Committee (COL/CC/SBC), Special (City Of London Court) Committee (COL/CC/SCC), City Of London School Committee (COL/CC/SCH), Secondaries And Sheriffs' Courts Committee (COL/CC/SDC), Special (Emergency) Committee (COL/CC/SEC), Special Finance Committee (COL/CC/SFC), Special (Guildhall Reconstruction) Committee (COL/CC/SGC), Select General Purposes (Porters) Committee (COL/CC/SGP), Special Housing Committee (COL/CC/SHC), Select And Special Committees (COL/CC/SIC), Special (Labour) Committee (COL/CC/SLC), Special Markets Committee (COL/CC/SMC), Special Committee (COL/CC/SPC), Spitalfields Market Committee (COL/CC/SPM), Special Police Committee (COL/CC/SPO), Special Inquiry Committee (COL/CC/SQC), Special Revenue Committee (COL/CC/SRC), Social Services Committee (COL/CC/SSC), Staff Committee (COL/CC/STF), Special Tithes Committee (COL/CC/STH), Streets Committee (COL/CC/STS), Special (War Damage Act) Committee (COL/CC/SWC), Tithe Committee (COL/CC/TIC), Thames Navigation Committee (COL/CC/TNC), Valuation Committee (COL/CC/VAC), Works Advisory Committee (COL/CC/WAC), Whole Court Committee (COL/CC/WCC), Whole Court (P.H.D.) Committee (COL/CC/WCD), Welfare Committee (COL/CC/WEC), West Ham Park: Committee Of Managers Of West Ham Park (COL/CC/WHP), Watch And Police Committee (COL/CC/WPC), Watch And Police: Day Police Committee (COL/CC/WPD) and Watch And Police: Special Day Police And Nightly Watch Committee (COL/CC/WPS).

Records of the Comptroller and City Solicitor (COL/CCS) including Comptroller's papers (COL/CCS/CO), Plans (COL/CCS/PL) and Solicitor's papers (COL/CCS/SO).

Records of the Chamberlain's Department including Apprenticeship (COL/CHD/AP), Bridge House Estates (COL/CHD/BH), Chamber Accounts (COL/CHD/CM), Chamberlain (COL/CHD/CP), Chamberlain's Court (COL/CHD/CR), City's Cash (COL/CHD/CT), Duties and Metage (COL/CHD/DM), Freedom (COL/CHD/FR), Institutions and Courts (COL/CHD/IC), Improvements (COL/CHD/IM), Loans and Assessments (COL/CHD/LA), Military and Naval (COL/CHD/MN), Pensions (COL/CHD/PN), Poor and other Relief (COL/CHD/PR), Rents and Rentals (COL/CHD/RN), Rates (COL/CHD/RT) and Trust and other Funds (COL/CHD/TF).

Records of Mansion House including Administration (COL/MH/AD), Lord Mayor (COL/MH/LM), Lord Mayor's Household (COL/MH/LMH) and The Mansion House (COL/MH/MSH).

Records of the Planning Department including Architect (COL/PLD/AR), Plans (COL/PLD/PL) and Town Planning (COL/PLD/TP).

Records of the Remembrancer's Department including Ceremonials (COL/RMD/CE), Parliamentary (COL/RMD/PA) and Remembrancer's Papers COL/RMD/RM.

Other records including administrative records (COL/AD); Brokers (COL/BR), charters (COL/CH), Common Hall (COL/CN), Common Hall: Livery Consultative Committee (COL/CN/LCN), Common Hall: Livery Committee (COL/CN/LVC), Livery Companies (COL/CP), Custumals (COL/CS), Community Services Department: Housing (COL/CSD/HO), Community Services Department: Social Services (COL/CSD/SS), Charities (COL/CT), Environmental Services Department (COL/ESD), Libraries and Art Galleries: Administration (COL/LBD/AD), Guildhall Art Gallery (COL/LBD/AG), Guildhall Library (COL/LBD/GHL), Officers (COL/OF), Public Health Department: Administration (COL/PHD/AD), Public Health Department: Plans (COL/PHD/PL), Plans (COL/PL), Recognizances (COL/RG), Surveyor's Department: Administration (COL/SVD/AD), Surveyor's Department: Plans (COL/SVD/PL), Town Clerks Department: Administration (COL/TCD/AD), Town Clerks Department: Civil Defence (COL/TCD/CD), Registration COL/TCD/RG, Technical Services Department: Plans (COL/TSD/PL), Sheriffs (COL/SF) and Wards (COL/WD).

Also records arranged in Subject Series: Individuals (COL/SD), Subjects (COL/SJ) and Places (COL/SP).

The records in the CLRO are thought to be one of the finest and most complete municipal archives in Europe. However, researchers may notice some substantial gaps and these merit an explanation. The majority of the records of the Freedom of the City prior to 1681 and the City's Cash accounts prior to 1632 were either destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666 or in another fire in the Chamber (the finance department of the Corporation) in 1786. Similarly, it is thought that a fire at the Sessions House in the Old Bailey in 1877 destroyed the early Sessions minutes and files, as well as the bulk of the supporting papers. The paucity of surviving Sheriffs' Court records for the medieval period is thought to be because these records were considered to be the personal property of a Sheriff, who might be called upon to produce records in order to account for his actions during his time in office long after his Shrievalty had ended. Similarly, it is thought the records of coroner's inquests have not survived in any quantity before 1788 because inquests were not held in a court building until relatively recently, and so the records of inquests were considered part of the personal papers of office holders rather than administrative records.

A descriptive account of the Holborn Valley Viaduct, opened by the Queen on the 6th November 1869, and carried out under the direction of the Corporation of London by the Improvements Committee.

Property records for Courage and Company Limited, brewers, including Plans Committee minutes and papers; London Properties Committee minutes and papers; financial records relating to estates income; estate maintenance records; public house ledgers; public house deeds; agreements; plans; maintenance diaries.

Records of the Court of Common Council, Corporation of London, 1272-2002, including journals, 1416-2000; subject index to journals, 1416-1811; index to the repertories, journals and letter books, 1416-1750; indexed printed minutes, 1811-1965; fair minutes, 1788-1880; rough minutes 1866-1970; Public Health Department journals, 1898-1947; Principal Clerk's rough books, 1875-1916; Town Clerk's rough books, 1954-2002; agendas, 1773-2001 (with gaps); papers (reports, letters and documents laid before the Common Council), 1643-2001 (with gaps); Town Clerk's rough papers, 1956-2000; Acts of the Common Council, 15th century - 1806; standing orders, 1880 and 1941; pocket books (lists of members and officers, committees and other information), 1788-2011; extracts regarding committees of the Common Council, 1400-1732; extracts from letter books regarding the constitution of the Common Council, 1272-1327; other administrative papers relating to the Common Council, including petitions, regulations, powers and so on; papers regarding the election of Common Councilmen, 1536-1964; papers regarding porters, 1606-1860; papers regarding fellowship porters, 1607-1934; papers regarding tackle house and ticket porters, 1607-1823; papers regarding byelaws, 1543-1993; modification orders, 1964-1983; closing orders, 1949-1974; papers relating to tree preservation, 1969-1998; stopping up orders (highways), 1963-2002; stopping up orders (public paths), 1981-2000 and papers relating to town planning, 1972-1996.

NB - 'tackle porters' were responsible for loading and unloading ships and a 'fellowship porter' was a member of the fellowship of the Porters of Billingsgate. 'Ticket porters' were members of a body of porters in the City of London who were licensed by the Corporation; originally called street-porters, and distinct from tackle porters. They were entitled to work in the Corporation markets.

Records of the Airport Committee, Court of Common Council, 1938-1956, comprising minutes, committee papers and various files, including correspondence, particularly regarding use of the land by the Air Ministry during World War Two and the post war sale of land to Ilford Borough Council; relevant Acts and Bills; minutes of meetings of the Aerodrome Owners Association; off-prints and press cuttings; memorandums; sub-committee minutes and surveyors reports.

Also papers relating to the inauguration of the first direct air service between London and Venice, April 1956.

Minute book of the Barbican Arts Centre Joint Working Party, Court of Common Council, 1968-1970. The Working Party was concerned with planning matters which would lead to the successful operation of the Barbican Arts Centre. They co-ordinated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the London Symphony Orchestra, dealt with public relations matters to do with the Centre, the appointment of technical and management consultants, and the appointment of the Centre's first Manager, Henry Wrong.

Records of the Barbican Centre Committee, Court of Common Council, comprising minutes, 1978-2006.

The Committee's minute books from 1978 contain policy and executive decisions necessary for the administration of the Barbican Centre, whilst the files of the same dates contain the reports and correspondence material to those decisions. Because of the special nature of the Barbican Centre as an arts venue, outwith the more usual experience of Local Authories, it was always seen as different to other Corporation Committees, comprising Members with particular commercial experience and of high calibre, and with higher expenditure and a slightly different ethos. The Committee supervised the residency at the Barbican Centre of the Royal Shakespeare Company (1982-2002) and the London Symphony Orchestra, although both bodies had been involved in the planning stages of the construction of the Barbican Centre since the 1960s with the Barbican Development Committee (COL/CC/BRD) and the Barbican Arts Centre Joint Working Party (COL/CC/BRA).

From 1978 to 1984, the Committee's Executive Sub Committee tended increasingly to take all the executive decisions respecting the Centre, and the Grand Committee met only to ratify its decisions, which led to reform of the Committee of 1985.

In common with all Corporation of London Committees, the minute books contain records only of decisions taken, and not details of arguments or debates which led to those decisions.

Rough minute books of the Barbican Contracts Working Party, Court of Common Council, 1982-1986. The minute books are closed until 2017.

The Working Party and then the Sub Committee administered the litigation relating to the Corporation's post-Second World War redevelopment of the Barbican Estate in the City of London 1981-1986, and in particular dealt with litigation and accounts for Phase V of the scheme (the Barbican Arts Centre).

Records of the Barbican Development Committee, Court of Common Council, comprising minutes, 1957-1983. Please note some of these records are closed.

The Committee's minute books contain administrative records of the oversight of the project. In common with all Corporation of London Committees, the minute books contain records only of decisions taken, and not details of arguments or debates which led to those decisions.

Records of the Blackfriars Bridge (Building) Committee, comprising minutes, 1768-1788; rough minutes, 1778-1783 and committee papers, 1770-1771, 1782-1788 and 1835.

Please note - earlier minute books were destroyed in 1780 when the Toll Houses on the Bridge were destroyed during the Gordon Riots.

Records of the Blackfriars Bridge (Repairing) Committee, comprising journals, 1833-1841; minutes, 1832-1843; rough minutes, 1834-1843 (including proceedings of Committee on 20 Nov 1838 on bringing gas into the City by mains over Blackfriars Bridge); committee papers, 1832-1843 and contracts, 1833-1841.

Records of Bridge House Committee, Court of Common Council, 1599-1968, including journals, 1622-1866; minute books, 1667-1968; minute books relating to Bridge House Committee Excursions, 1861-1894; committee papers, 1599-1957; Bridge Masters' report book, 1881-1914; surveyor's reports to the Bridge House Committee, 1941-1965; orders and resolutions, 1611-1741, 1789-1802 and 1813-1853; warrant books, 1797-1824 and 1885-1913; standing orders, 1867 and 1938; Bridge House rentals, 1897-1950; Tower Bridge Buildings rentals, 1889-1914; advertisements for proposals for leasing land and for tenders for contracts, 1878-1902; bills, accounts and sundry papers, 1629-1826 and papers regarding the never built St Paul's bridge, 1905-1930.

Minute book of the Central Criminal Court (Extension) Committee, Court of Common Council, 1964-1978. Please note these records are closed until 2009.

Records of the Newson-Smith Committee, Court of Common Council, including minutes, 1960-1961; report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Business of Criminal Courts, presented to Parliament in 1961; report of the Newson-Smith Committee, 1961; typed minutes, agenda, memoranda, correspondence and reports, 1959-1961; correspondence, 1960-1961; correspondence and memoranda regarding the re-convening of the Newson-Smith Committee to discuss the extension of the Central Criminal Court, 1966.

Records of the City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee, comprising minutes, 1969-2008 and minutes of the hospitality working party, 1990-1997. Please note some of these records are closed.

Records of the City Lands Committee, Court of Common Council, including journals, 1699-1870; minutes, 1703-1968; rough minutes, 1668-1698; committee papers, including reports, petitions and other documents presented to the committee, 1666-1957; City Lands and Bridge House Committees letter books, 1898-1913; report books, 1941-1965; order books, 1667-1816; warrants for payments to be made to workmen, 1873-1887; standing orders, 1793 and 1837-1909; City rentals, 1937-1950; papers of the City and Bridge House Accounts Committee, 1838-1845; papers regarding liability under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1897; powers vested in the committee by the Court of Common Council, 1668-1673 and 1796-1846 and papers regarding collection of rents and enforcement of payments, 1873-1893.

Minute book of the City of London School Building Committee, 1983-1991. Please note that this volume is closed until 2022.

Records of the Coal and Corn Committee, Court of Common Council, including journals, 1801-1834; minute books, 1785-1835 and committee papers, 1786-1835.

Records of the Coal, Corn and Finance Committee, Court of Common Council, including journals, 1833-1858; minutes, 1835-1968; committee papers, 1835-1957; rough minutes, 1787-1815; report books, 1905-1936; corn returns, 1787-1852; papers relating to the Manor of Allerds and Burnham Beeches, 1881-1943; petitions for appointments as deputy corn meters, deputy sea coal meters, labouring land coal meters, inspector of coal ships and inspector of coal traffic, 1787-1866; securities, 1886, 1901, 1918-1919 and 1943; standing orders affecting the Committee, 1835-1840; papers regarding the Coal and Line Dues continuance, 1883-1892; papers regarding the City of London Parochial Charities, 1881-1891; papers relating to various open spaces including Highgate Woods, Shiplake Island, St Paul's Churchyard, Queen's Park, Kilburn, Postmen's Park (St Botolph Aldersgate Churchyard) and Farthing Down, Croydon, 1880-1954; papers regarding the utilisation and disposal of metropolitan sewage, 1864-1865; historical notes on the Coal Exchange, 1950; income tax on Corporation funds, 1946-1954; papers on the rebuilding of St. Lawrence Jewry, 1954-1957 and Tower Hill improvements, 1934-1944.

Minutes of the Coal, Corn and Rates Finance Committee, 1968-1990. Some records are closed.

Minutes and papers of various small, temporary committees of the Court of Common Council, 1668-1990. The Committees were formed to consider various matters including the election, remuneration and behaviour of officers and staff of the Corporation of London; consideration of the effects of various Parliamentary Acts and Bills; the historical rights and privileges of the City of London; the provision of cemeteries; parishes and benefices; metage, particularly of coal and corn; the reform of the Corporation; markets; building maintenance and preservation; debtors, insolvency and bankruptcy; the Gresham bequest; food imports; transport including railways; presentation of the Freedom to William Pitt; militia; the erection of monuments and statues; the funerals of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington and Horatio, Viscount Nelson; legacies and bequests; care of orphans; poor relief; estate management; schools and libraries; City finances; water and gas supply; Port of London; sewers; regulation of trade and licensing; street lighting; prisons and compters.

Also papers relating to the general organisation and running of Court of Common Council Committees, including the decision to allow public and press to attend certain committees, 1974; lists of committee Chairmen and members for various years; committee books, 1690-1727 and 1813-1990; bills books, 1873-1884; notes on the historical powers of the Court of Common Council and the Court of Aldermen and notes on the streamlining of committees and administration, 1835-1965.

Records of the Guildhall Improvements Committee, Court of Common Council, comprising minutes, 1863-1868 and 1881-1887; rough minutes, 1863-1868; committee papers, 1863-1887; chairman's books, 1863-1868 and account book, 1881-1885.

Minute book of Guildhall Yard East Building Committee, 02 Jul 1987 - 04 Nov 1993.

Records of the Guildhall Yard East Committee comprising tender submissions for the design and project management contract, 1996.

Minutes of the Housing Committee, Court of Common Council, 1957-1997, the Housing and Sports Development Committee 1998-2001, the Community Committee 2001-2005. Please note that records are closed for 30 years after the date of the last entry.

Records of the Improvements and Town Planning Committee, Commissioners of Sewers / Public Health Department, including minute books, 1853-1898, of the Improvement Committee of the Commissioners of Sewers (1853-1866), later the Finance and Improvements Committee (1866-1897); minute books of the Improvements and Finance Committee (1897-1930), later the Improvements Committee (1930-1941) and later the Improvements and Town Planning Committee (1941-1968), 1898-1968; committee papers, 1915-1964; papers relating to post-war reconstruction, 1941-1945 and report books, 1853-1947.

Records of the Improvements Committee, Court of Common Council, including minute books of a committee appointed for the discovery and improvement of any estate belonging to the City towards payment of the Orphans and other debts, 1692-1696; journals, minutes and committee papers relating to improvements at New Prison and Moorfields, 1811-1838; minutes and committee papers relating to improvements at Saint Martin's Le Grand, 1815-1827; journals, minutes, order books and committee papers relating to improvements at Temple Bar and Snow Hill, 1793-1817, journals, minutes, committee papers and administrative papers relating to improvements at Holborn Valley and Clerkenwell, 1845-1887; minutes and committee papers relating to improvements at Farringdon New Street (Committee to carry out the Act for making a new Street from Holborn Circus towards Clerkenwell Green), 1832-1842; minutes and committee papers relating to improvements at the Fleet Valley, 1851-1853; minutes and committee papers relating to excursions, 1861-1887; minutes relating to improvements to Cannon Street area and other improvements 1846-1854; committee papers relating to the Inner Circle Railway, 1878-1880; reports, 1851-1854; Holborn Viaduct Improvements engineers' reports, 1865-1874; standing orders for regulating the Committee, 1829; claims for compensation for property required under the City of London (Improvement) Acts 1847 and 1850, and the Clerkenwell Improvement Act 1851, with some tenders for ground surplus to requirements, 1847-1855; papers relating to baths and washhouses, 1849-1867 and papers relating to the first two local authority erected public housing schemes in London, Corporation Buildings (1865) and Viaduct Buildings (1875).

Records of the Joint Bridge House Estates and Improvement Committee, Court of Common Council, including minutes regarding opening of Blackfriars Bridge and Holborn Viaduct by Queen Victoria, 8 Oct 1869 - 5 Dec 1872; committee papers, 1869-1870; tickets for opening, including pass tickets for Bridge and Viaduct, admission card to ceremony of opening, and programme of ceremony, 1869; plans of platforms etc. at Blackfriars Bridge, 1869; correspondence regarding the organisation of the opening ceremony and applications for tickets, 1869 and correspondence regarding the creation and provision of commemorative medals.