Records of the parish of Saint Botolph Aldgate date from the mid 16th century, but the archive also includes muniments of title from 1279. There are churchwardens accounts from 1547, vestry minutes from 1583, and poor rate assessments, tithe rate assessments and paving rate assessments from 1738. Parish registers include baptisms, marriages, banns, burials, preachers and church services. There are also papers relating to poor relief including the workhouse.

The series of rate books listed here are for the East Smithfield and/or City parts of the parish. East Smithfield was divided for rate collection purposes into Upper and Lower Precincts (UP & LP) and the extents of these precincts are given in the catalogue entries. The Upper Precinct included some of the Tower of London liberty until 1829 when separate rate books survive for the liberty (denoted as TL). St Katharine's Precinct appears not to have been included in any rate assessments for East Smithfield, apart from the paving rate books (Ms 2537) which include a small section of the Precinct. The City part of the parish is divided into five precincts, Houndsditch (H), High Street (HS), Tower Hill (TH), Barrs (B) and Covent Garden (CG). The extents of these precincts is given in the catalogue entries. The parish of Holy Trinity Minories does not appear in rate assessments for either the City or East Smithfield parts before its union with St Botolph.

Records of the parish of Saint Bride, Fleet Street, City of London. The records include parish registers (baptisms, marriages, banns, burials, church services) from 1587, but the main archive dates from the 17th century, including vestry minutes from 1644 and poor rate and tithe rate assessments from 1666. Other records include Churchwardens' accounts and papers relating to parish charities.

Records of Saint Margaret Lothbury, City of London, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns, burials and preachers; Vestry minute books; Churchwardens' accounts and vouchers; administrative papers; papers relating to the maintenance of the church building; papers relating to parish poor relief; poor rate assessment books and church rate assessment books; and deeds and other documents relating to parish properties.

Records of the parish of Saint Michael Queenhithe, Upper Thames Street, City of London, including parish registers (baptisms, marriages, burials, banns) from 1653; churchwardens' accounts from 1625 and vestry minutes from 1667. The bulk of the archive is 17th century or later, including papers relating to poor relief, poor rate books and tithe rate books.

Records of the parish of Saint Nicholas Acons, Cannon Street, City of London, including registers of baptisms, marriages and burials; Vestry minute books; Churchwardens' accounts and vouchers; drawings of boundary marks of the parishes; Overseers' books of receipts and payments; poor rate, church rate and tithe rate assessments.

Records of the parish of Saint Stephen, Coleman Street, City of London. The collection includes the so-called 'Vellum Book', a record book chiefly of church property dating from 1466 (Ms 4456). The main archive dates from the 15th century and includes churchwardens' accounts from 1486, parish registers (baptisms, marriages, burials, banns) from 1538, poor rate and tithe rate assessments from 1592 and vestry minutes from 1622.

Records of the parish of Saint Stephen Walbrook, City of London, including registers of baptisms, marriages and burials; preachers' books; Vestry minutes; Parochial Church Council minutes; Churchwardens' accounts; administrative papers; poor rate assessments and tithe rate assessments.

Records of the parish of Saint Swithin, London Stone, Cannon Street, City of London, including parish registers of baptisms, marriages, burials and banns, Vestry minutes, Churchwardens' accounts, deeds, poor rate and tithe rate assessments and miscellaneous administrative papers.

Records of the London Stone District Visiting Society, 1830-1854, 2 volumes: This was a charitable society for visiting families and distributing religious tracts, and also linen, bread, coal etc. Little is known about the society. An undated (but ca.1830s or 1840s) printed notice bound into Ms 3367 gives the secretary's name as J. C. Bowles and indicates that the society was run by a committee which met at 16 Walbrook. The records of the society were deposited with the records of the parish of St Swithin London Stone in 1938 and catalogued shortly afterwards by a member of Guildhall Library staff. They comprise a cash book 1830-54 (P69/SWI/D/02/MS03366) and a summary of visits and payments made 1831-43 (P69/SWI/D/03/MS03367).

Records of the parish of Saint Giles, Camberwell, including registers of baptisms, marriages and burials; Churchwardens' account books; legal documents relating to parish properties; papers relating to parish boundaries including maps; faculties; orders of service; papers relating to tithes; and history of the church.

Records relating to the civil functions of the parish including records relating to the poor rates; papers of the Overseers of the Poor; removal orders from and to the parish; settlement examinations; bastardy examinations; Workhouse Committee minutes; workhouse admission and discharge registers; and other papers relating to poor relief.

Records of the Tudor Brothers, fancy drapers, comprising copy draft agreement by Evans to Tudor Brothers regarding shops numbers 4-6 Imperial Court, Albert Gate, Brompton Road, Kensington (with plans), 26 Aug 1903 and copies of profit and loss accounts of Tudor Brothers, fancy drapers, 1901-1904.

Corporate records of the Chelsea Waterworks Company, including Court of Directors minute books; General Board minute books; Committee of Accounts and Works minute books; Finance and Audit Committee minute books; Parliamentary Committee minutes; Secretary's report books; agenda books; correspondence; letter books; legal papers; register of stock and share holders; stock and share ledgers and other records; dividend books; registers of wills; bond records; contracts and specifications.

Property records of the East London Waterworks Company, including rental ledgers; particulars of land purchases; notices and plans of intended purchase and schedule of deeds.

Corporate records of the London Bridge Waterworks Company, including Committee of Managers minute books; General Meetings of the Proprietors minute books; shareholders register; stock ledgers and transfer books and dividend books.

Records of the South London Waterworks Company (later the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company) including papers relating to shares; minutes of Director's meetings; stock certificates; papers relating to works and papers relating to a lawsuit.

Records of the London County Council Architect's Department, including papers relating to the creation of the Valuer's Department, 1889, and the transfer of staff; strike arrangements, 1921-1934 and papers relating to the Staff Organisation for Housing, 1920.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department, 1845-1966, including subject and policy files on various topics including the Royal Commission on Local Taxation; Smoke Nuisance Abatement (Metropolis) Bill; smoke nuisances, atmospheric pollution, smog and fogs; smoke in Thames tunnels; and electricity generating stations. Annual Reports of the Chief Officer of the Public Control Department and annual reports of the Public Control Committee and of the Inebriates Acts Committee. Other papers including Acts of Parliament relevant to the work of the Public Control Department; notes and instructions for guidance of inspectors; examples of warrants issued to officers authorising them to institute proceedings in the courts; solicitor's reports and legal opinions on public control matters.

Records of Argonauts Investments Limited, comprising correspondence regarding loans and a map of land plots in Tanzania.

Records of the Borneo Company, as follows:
1.Deed of settlement; memorandum and articles of association: Ms 27174-7;

2. Board, AGM and committee minutes; annual reports and accounts: Ms 27178-90;
3. Secretary's papers: Ms 27191-8;
4. Accounts: Ms 27199-231;
5. Overseas operations records:-
   Agency and general agreements-Ms 27232-43;
   Java and Sumatra-Ms 27244-58;
   Malaya and Singapore-Ms 27259-76;
   Philippines-Ms 27277;
   Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei-Ms 27278-304;
   Siam-Ms 27305-29;
6. Investments, takeovers and subsidiary company papers:-
   Australia-Ms 27330-45;
   Canada -Ms 27346-50;
   Hong Kong-Ms 27351;
   Colombia-Ms 27352;
   Cuba-Ms 27353;
   India-Ms 27354-5;
   Java and Sumatra-Ms 27356-9;
   Malaya and Singapore-Ms 27360-400;
   Netherlands-Ms 27401-2;
   Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei-Ms 27403-19;
   Siam-Ms 27420;
   United Kingdom-Ms 27421-3;
7. Publicity and sales material: Ms 27424-6;
8. Staff records: Ms 27427-43;
9. Property records (London only): Ms 27430-6;
10. Centenary celebrations and notes for centenary history: Ms 27437-43;
11. Photographs: Ms 27444-66;
12. Branch records:-
    Sarawak: Kuching-Ms 27467-70;
    Siam: Bangkok -Ms 27471-4.

Records of J and A Scrimgeour, stockbrokers, including articles of partnership and ledgers.

Records of Clayton, Byng and Paget, stockbrokers, including client ledgers, bank ledgers, and trustee ledger.

They are held off-site and therefore require 24 hours notice for access. Some records are subject to a 75 year closure period.

Records of the British Commonwealth Insurance Company, including memorandum and articles of association; papers relating to the acquisition by Legal and General; minutes; annual reports and accounts; financial records; register of investments and specimen policy forms.

Records of the Gresham Life Assurance Society, including registers, notices, minutes, annual reports, financial accounts, valuation summaries, samples of policy forms, and papers relating to branches in Austria, Hungary, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, South Africa, and Spain.

Also papers of the Gresham Continental Life Assurance Society, including memorandum and articles of association, minute books and letter books.

Records of Yule, Catto and Company Limited comprising financial accounts, correspondence and a brief history of the company.

National Life Assurance Society records comprise constitutional documents, minutes, annual reports and accounts, correspondence, accounts, reports, policy registers and books of tables. They include some series continued after the merger in 1896.

24 hours notice is required for access to this material.

Mutual Life Assurance Society records comprise constitutional documents, minutes, annual reports and accounts, records of policies and claims, and other administrative records. Some series were maintained by National Mutual after the merger.

24 hours notice is required for access to this material.

Records of Read, Hurst-Brown and Company, stockbrokers, comprising ledgers and associated papers, 1952-1969 and a general ledger and balance sheets of Read, Hurst-Brown and Company Service Company, 1957-1963.

Please note that the archive is subject to a 40-year closure rule which means that permission must be sought from the donor for access to material less than 40 years old. Readers wishing to consult restricted material should consult a member of staff.

London Committee minutes of the Central Insurance Company, formerly the Birmingham Mutual Fire and General Insurance Association.

Crown Life Assurance Company records comprise: deed of settlement, 1853; conveyance of assets, 1867; agreement for amalgamation, 1891; rules and regulations, 1825-1873; minutes, 1825-92; and report books, 1870-1890.

Permission to publish any material must be obtained: ask a member of staff for further information.

Directors' minute book of the Farmers and Gardeners Hailstorm Insurance Company.

Records of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Fire and Life Assurance Company, comprising minutes and instructions to agents.

Records of the Phoenix Assurance Company including single assurance policy, deeds and deed of covenant and premises plans.

Planet Assurance Company Limited records comprise notices of annual general meetings, 1921-2, 1924-5; and out-letter books, 1926-51.

Reports of the Sun Insurance Office Limited, comprising reports of visits to overseas branches in the USA, Canada, Europe, the Far East, Australasia, Africa, and South America.

THESE RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO A 50 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD. LIFE POLICY REGISTERS, CLAIMS REGISTERS AND EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY POLICY REGISTERS ARE CLOSED FOR 75 YEARS.

Papers of the Sun Insurance Office Limited relating to other organisations; including copy minute books of the Accident Offices Association, Fire Offices' Committee (Foreign), London Continental Fire Insurance Committee, and Fire Offices' Committee.

THESE RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO A 50 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD. LIFE POLICY REGISTERS, CLAIMS REGISTERS AND EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY POLICY REGISTERS ARE CLOSED FOR 75 YEARS.

Records of Sissons, Bersey, Gain, Vincent and Company, chartered accountants, comprising articles of partnership and related deeds and papers, 1895-1953, a balance sheet, 1934, menus for staff dinners and other occasions, 1919-70, and correspondence to do with the accountancy careers of Joseph Walter Vincent, 1895-1902.

Records of Wallace Brothers Finance Limited including board minute book and register of members and share register.

Records of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, also known as Chartered Bank, including half-yearly head office and branch balance sheets 1858-1972; half-yearly returns from London and head office 1859-1976; staff records 1854-1960; schedules of bank premises, insurance and strongroom provision 1911-1979 and some miscellaneous papers 1863.

Access to the bank's archives is subject to a 45-year rule, with a 70-year rule for specifically personnel records.

These records are still being catalogued and the Archive holds around 75 linear yards of material dating from 1853 which does not appear in the catalogue and for which there is as yet no accurate list. This uncatalogued material is at present unavailable to readers.

Records of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, later known as the Chartered Bank. Records date from 1851, just prior to the foundation of the bank in 1853 and include reference to the operation and management of the business covering both branches, agencies and head office. There is information relating to premises and staff, inspection of branches and customer accounts, some records of legal actions as well as general administrative records created and maintained by the secretaries and general managers.

Highlights include records relating to the bank during times of War, from accounts of local rebellions and riots through to the Second World War which saw two thirds of the banks' branches occupied by the Japanese and over 100 of the banks' European officers interned. There is a series of letters within the records of the Secretary and a number of personal reminiscences recounting the courageous actions of trustworthy staff members trying to salvage bank records from being seized by the Japanese, from those in internment camps and accounts of conditions in occupied countries (CLC/B/207/CH03/01/07) and a register of employees interned in prisoner of war camps or killed during enemy action (CLC/B/207/CH08/01/004).

There is a series of posterity files (CLC/B/207/CH03/01/09-13) consisting of over 1,300 documents which were retained by the Secretary as a research resource and for historical interest covering a remarkable range of subjects such as legal wrangles and reports on trading conditions in particular countries reflecting how the bank was responsive to early economic development and new trade when seeking to expand its network of branches.

The 'Realms of Silver' centenary publication research files are a valuable source on the history of the bank (CLC/B/207/CH03/01/14-17) covering a range of topics such as key commodities in particular areas, they show staff enduring disease, plague, famine and drought, rebellion and revolution, earthquakes, floods and fire and highlight how the activities of the Bank have touched upon events of world history as well as of local development, often reflecting creative solutions that the bank employed to overcome such problems and tribulations.

There is an extensive collection of premises records (CLC/B/207/CH09) including plans of the branches and often subsequent upgrades and developments of branches and agencies in response to growing business needs. There are also photographs which show not only bank premises but also create a pictorial history reflecting the international operations of the Chartered Bank as well as showing local flora, fauna and methods of trade, for example, in Cebu the use of Buffalo to move Hemp and in Burma the use of Elephants in the emerging logging trade. They also reflect local tragedies such as the effects of the Yokohama Earthquake in Japan in 1923 (CLC/B/207/CH09/08; CLC/B/207/CH08/04; CLC/B/207/CH03/01/16)

There is an extensive series of records relating to accounts and financial matters (CLC/B/207/CH04), including general ledgers; a comprehensive series of half yearly balance sheets from branches and records of the Taxation and Statistics Department (which appears to have fallen under the auspices of the Chief Accountant.

There are also records relating to staff (CLC/B/207/CH08), which give details on the bank's application and registration process, and progress and activities of named staff when they took up their posts. These records include registers of staff (1874-1920), some staff applications and employment agreements (1900-1930) and an extensive series of half-yearly schedules of staff in overseas branches (1863-1960).

This sub fonds includes registers of home and foreign staff containing personal details (CLC/B/207/CH08/01/001-003) and a register of employees interned in prisoner of war camps or killed during enemy action (CLC/B/207/CH08/01/004). Also consists of staff applications and employment agreements for individual staff members (CLC/B/207/CH08/02/001-005).

Records of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited including records relating to the foundation of the company, board and committee minutes, annual general meeting minutes, powers of attorney and deeds.

Records of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited including secretary's department and general manager's department correspondence files.

Records of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited including ledgers containing company accounts, deposits and current accounts, acceptances, bills discounted, loans and customer securities, safe registers, insurance claims, and share brokering records including registers of coupons and sold transfers relating to shares.

Records of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited including records relating to employee provident fund and retirement benefits plan; and an income tax register.

Records of E D Sassoon and Company Limited including records relating to the foundation of the company such as memoranda and articles of association, certificates of incorporation and special resolutions; a board minute book and power of attorney.

Records of E D Sassoon and Company Limited including accounts, balance sheets and reports.

Records of the National Bank of India including one Directors fees and fixed remuneration ledger.

Records of the National Bank of Malawi including copies of the minutes of the Board 1971, for July only. No other records survive within this collection.

Records of the National Industrial Credit Corporation based in Johannesburg, including the memorandum and articles of association, the minutes of the South African Committee based at Johannesburg and the London Committee and the annual reports (with gaps).

Records of Standard Chartered Bank Limited including correspondence relating to Standard Bank of South Africa Limited publicity and Business Guides which include information such as geography, climate, population, language, natural resources, infrastructure, communications, customs duties, exchange import and export, taxation and the banking services offered by Standard Chartered Bank.

Records of Standard Bank of Sierra Leone Limited including correspondence between Sierra Leone Head Office, Freetown and Director's Office (London).

Records of Standard Bank of Nigeria Limited including inward and outward letters between Nigeria Head Office, Lagos and Director's Office (London).