Corporation of London

The Guildhall Museum was founded in 1826 by the Corporation of London when the Common Council instructed the Library Committee to provide a suitable place for the reception of antiquities relating to the City of London. No adequate space was provided for display until 1873 when the new Library building was constructed with provision for a museum space. During the Second World War the collections were evacuated. After the war a small room was allocated for the display of museum objects. Most of the objects in the museum came from archaeological excavations within the City, including Roman and Medieval finds. Other objects relevant to the history of the City were also displayed such as livery companies' plate, City seals, medals of civic entertainments, presentation swords, ceremonial staffs and regalia, tradesmen's tokens, watches and clocks belonging to the Clockmakers' Company and playing cards belonging to the Company of Makers of Playing Cards.

In 1975 the London Museum in Kensington and the Guildhall Museum merged to form The Museum of London, housed in the new Barbican complex. The clocks belonging to the Clockmakers' Company are still on display at Guildhall near the Library.