Records of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, 1345-2000. The records of the Company include registers of freedom admissions from 1346 and of apprentice bindings from 1457. There are also items relating to schools administered by the Company, including: Witney Free Grammar School, Oxfordshire; Hackney Downs Grammar School; Oundle School, Northamptonshire; and Walwyn's Free School, Colwall, Herefordshire. In addition, the Library holds the Company's "Black Book" (Ms 11570) which dates from 1345 and contains details of the foundation of the Fraternity of Pepperers and its ordinances. The original of the 1345 and later ordinances and its grants of arms of 1532 and 1562 have been lost.
Witney Free Grammar School (former references: MS 11631 - 11632). The records, in 14 production units dating between 1670 and 1939, comprise constitutional documents and accounts only. They were deposited with records of the Grocers' Company in 1965 and 1996 and catalogued by Guildhall Library archivists.
Hackney Downs Grammar School (former references: MS11633 - 11635A, MS11821, MS11906 - 11907, MS11912, MS11914, MS39816). The records, in 19 production units dating between 1873 and 1907, comprise minutes, accounts and reports only. They were deposited by the Grocers' Company at various dates since 1965, and catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.
Worshipful Company of Grocers