Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1768-1788 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.3 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The concept of the Court of Common Council grew from the ancient custom of the Folkmoot, when the assent of the citizens to important acts was obtained. This custom was continued by the Mayor who consulted the Commons several times during the 13th century. From 1376 the assembly began to meet regularly and was referred to as the Common Council. It was decided that the Council should be made up of persons elected from each Ward. By 1384 a permanent Common Council chosen by the citizens was established for all time. The Council assumed legislative functions and adopted financial powers, confirmed by Charters of 1377 and 1383. The Council has often used these powers to amend the civic constitution, regulate the election of Lord Mayor and other officials, and amend the functions of the City courts. The Council was judged so successful in the conduct of its duties that it was the only Corporation unreformed by Parliament following the Municipal Corporations Commission report of 1837, while the Corporation Inquiry Commission of 1854 suggested only minor reforms. The work of the Council is conducted by a number of committees, while the whole Council has the right to approve policy, confirm major decisions and sanction expenditure. The committees handle many aspects of the running of the City including land and estates, finance and valuation, open spaces, street improvement and town planning, public health, police, Port of London, civil defence, airports, libraries, markets, education, and law. The Town Clerk has held responsibility for recording the minutes of the Council and its committees since 1274.
In 1756 an Act of Parliament was passed for 'building a bridge cross the river Thames from Blackfriars in the City of London to the opposite side in the county of Surrey'. The Act empowered the Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London to design, direct, order and build the bridge, and to maintain it once built, and allowed them to assemble a committee to carry out these actions. The Blackfriars Bridge (Building) Committee advertised a competition for the design of the Bridge in 1759 which was won by Robert Mylne who was appointed as surveyor to oversee the construction. Blackfriars Bridge was opened in 1769. It had nine arches and was decorated with motifs drawn from classical architecture. New approach roads were constructed with wider bridge entrances. The river Fleet was covered over at the same time, with its outflow into the Thames built under the bridge.
Repository
Archival history
COL/CC/BBB 1768-1788 subfonds 0.3 linear metres Corporation of London
The concept of the Court of Common Council grew from the ancient custom of the Folkmoot, when the assent of the citizens to important acts was obtained. This custom was continued by the Mayor who consulted the Commons several times during the 13th century. From 1376 the assembly began to meet regularly and was referred to as the Common Council. It was decided that the Council should be made up of persons elected from each Ward. By 1384 a permanent Common Council chosen by the citizens was established for all time. The Council assumed legislative functions and adopted financial powers, confirmed by Charters of 1377 and 1383. The Council has often used these powers to amend the civic constitution, regulate the election of Lord Mayor and other officials, and amend the functions of the City courts. The Council was judged so successful in the conduct of its duties that it was the only Corporation unreformed by Parliament following the Municipal Corporations Commission report of 1837, while the Corporation Inquiry Commission of 1854 suggested only minor reforms. The work of the Council is conducted by a number of committees, while the whole Council has the right to approve policy, confirm major decisions and sanction expenditure. The committees handle many aspects of the running of the City including land and estates, finance and valuation, open spaces, street improvement and town planning, public health, police, Port of London, civil defence, airports, libraries, markets, education, and law. The Town Clerk has held responsibility for recording the minutes of the Council and its committees since 1274.
In 1756 an Act of Parliament was passed for 'building a bridge cross the river Thames from Blackfriars in the City of London to the opposite side in the county of Surrey'. The Act empowered the Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London to design, direct, order and build the bridge, and to maintain it once built, and allowed them to assemble a committee to carry out these actions. The Blackfriars Bridge (Building) Committee advertised a competition for the design of the Bridge in 1759 which was won by Robert Mylne who was appointed as surveyor to oversee the construction. Blackfriars Bridge was opened in 1769. It had nine arches and was decorated with motifs drawn from classical architecture. New approach roads were constructed with wider bridge entrances. The river Fleet was covered over at the same time, with its outflow into the Thames built under the bridge.
Corporation of London Records Office.
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.
In sections: minutes and committee papers.
Available for general access.
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 Bridges see: CLA/007: Bridge House Estates, CLA/018: Bridges, CLA/019: Southwark Bridge, CLA/020: Tower Bridge, CLA/021: Blackfriars Bridge, CLA/022: London Bridge, COL/CC/BBB: Court of Common Council Blackfriars Bridge (Building) Committee, COL/CC/BBR: Court of Common Council Blackfriars Bridge (Repairing) Committee, COL/CC/BHC: Court of Common Council Bridge House Committee, COL/CC/BHT: Court of Common Council Bridge House Trust Committee, COL/CC/CLBH: Court of Common Council City Lands and Bridge House Estate Committee, COL/CC/JTB: Court of Common Council Joint Bridge House Estates and Improvement Committee, COL/CC/JTS: Joint Bridge House and Special Committee, COL/CC/CLA: Court of Common Council City of London (Arizona) Corporation, COL/CC/LBA: Court of Common Council London Bridge Approaches Committee, COL/CC/LBC: Court of Common Council London Bridge Committee, COL/CC/LBI: London Bridge Improvements Committee, COL/CC/SBC: Court of Common Council Special Bridge or Subway Committee, COL/CCS/PL: Comptroller and City Solicitor: Plans, COL/PL: Plans, COL/PLD/PL: Planning Department Plans, COL/SVD/PL: Surveyor's Department Plans, COL/TSD/PL: Technical Services Department Plans, COL/CHD/CM: Chamberlain's Department: Chamber Accounts.
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 Blackfriars Bridge (Building) Committee , Court of Common Council , Corporation of London Mylne , Robert , 1733-1811 , architect and engineer Organisation and management Administration Administrative history Transport infrastructure Bridges Civil engineering Construction engineering Building operations Building construction Blackfriars Bridge 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 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.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In sections: minutes and committee papers.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
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 Bridges see: CLA/007: Bridge House Estates, CLA/018: Bridges, CLA/019: Southwark Bridge, CLA/020: Tower Bridge, CLA/021: Blackfriars Bridge, CLA/022: London Bridge, COL/CC/BBB: Court of Common Council Blackfriars Bridge (Building) Committee, COL/CC/BBR: Court of Common Council Blackfriars Bridge (Repairing) Committee, COL/CC/BHC: Court of Common Council Bridge House Committee, COL/CC/BHT: Court of Common Council Bridge House Trust Committee, COL/CC/CLBH: Court of Common Council City Lands and Bridge House Estate Committee, COL/CC/JTB: Court of Common Council Joint Bridge House Estates and Improvement Committee, COL/CC/JTS: Joint Bridge House and Special Committee, COL/CC/CLA: Court of Common Council City of London (Arizona) Corporation, COL/CC/LBA: Court of Common Council London Bridge Approaches Committee, COL/CC/LBC: Court of Common Council London Bridge Committee, COL/CC/LBI: London Bridge Improvements Committee, COL/CC/SBC: Court of Common Council Special Bridge or Subway Committee, COL/CCS/PL: Comptroller and City Solicitor: Plans, COL/PL: Plans, COL/PLD/PL: Planning Department Plans, COL/SVD/PL: Surveyor's Department Plans, COL/TSD/PL: Technical Services Department Plans, COL/CHD/CM: Chamberlain's Department: Chamber Accounts.
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
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Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
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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