Records of the Cornhill Ward, Corporation of London. The records comprise wardmote minutes and accounts, returns and inhabitants lists, jury lists and other administrative papers. They were catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff at various dates.
Cornhill Ward , Corporation of LondonRecords of the Cornhill and Lime Street Wards School, comprising minutes of the Committee of Management; treasurer's journals; financial accounts and roll commemorating laying of first stone of the new school building (1846).
Cornhill and Lime Street Wards SchoolHistory of the Cornhill and Lime Street Wards Charity Schools.
Cornhill and Lime Street Wards Charity SchoolsThe only surviving records of Langbourn Ward School are trustees' minutes from 1738 and a set of rules.
Langbourn Ward SchoolRecords of Cornhill, Lime Street and Langbourn Wards Schools, comprising girls admission register and log books.
Cornhill, Lime Street and Langbourn Wards SchoolsRecords of the Walbrook Ward, Corporation of London. The records comprise Wardmote minutes and accounts, rate assessments and inhabitants lists, precepts and other administrative papers. They were catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff at various dates.
Walbrook Ward , Corporation of LondonRecords of Lime Street Ward, Corporation of London. The records comprise minutes, accounts and a list of voters. They were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff.
Lime Street Ward , Corporation of LondonRecords of the Broad Street Ward, Corporation of London. The records comprise wardmote minutes, accounts, rate assessments, presentments at inquests and details of officers, and other administrative papers. They were catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff at various dates.
Broad Street Ward , Corporation of LondonRecords relating to the wards of the City of London, 1617-1979. Papers relating to individual wards, including petition of inquest jury and inhabitants of Aldersgate Without regarding the boundaries of the Liberty of St Bartholomew on Cloth Fair, 1766-1789; complaint of inhabitants of Bridge Ward that their ancient rights of free wharfage through the gate in Churchyard Alley were being hindered, 1660s; report regarding the rights and privileges of the ward of Bridge Without [Southwark], 1892; extract from a lease of the Jamaica Coffee House reserving a room for the use of the Ward Inquest and the parish officers, Cornhill Ward, 1884 and correspondence with the Secretary of the Board of Ordnance about the complaint of the inquest of Tower Ward about the entrance from Tower Hill into Thames Street being stopped by a Box and Toll, 1739.
Papers relating to Wardmotes, including returns of elections of Officers for Farringdon Within, 1683; Bishopsgate, 1683; Tower, 1689; Cordwainer, 1689; Vintry, 1690; Langbourn, 1690; Cordwainer, 1707; Cornhill, 1711; Bridge, 1711; Cripplegate, 1711 and Dowgate, 1711; set of Acts relating to the holding of Wardmotes and elections, 1663-1928; various Wardmote Precepts (orders, rules and regulations), 1679-1714? and 1802, 1823, 1957 and 1970-1973; Wardmote Books (printed copies of regulations, Acts and Orders for the holding of Wardmotes), 1853 1979; lists of candidates, 1965-1975; Act of Common Council for regulating elections in Wardmotes and Common Halls, 1712; case notes regarding whether a Deputy can hold a Wardmote and declare himself elected a Common-Councilman, 1723; opinion regarding the right of attendance at Wardmotes, 1905; Articles of Charge of the Wardmote Inquest (orders for actions to take place at the Wardmote, such as the reading of new regulations), [1625-1910]; 'Act of Common Council that the Inquestmen, after taking their oaths, shall choose from among themselves a Foreman, should the voting be equal the Alderman of the Ward shall nominate one as Foreman', 1617; Order of the Court of Common Council against the 'Extravagant Expenses at the Meeting of their Wardmote-Inquests, in Eating and Drinking, and also sending abroad Wine and Ale to the Inhabitants of the several Wards' and allowing that Inquests may be adjourned in order that the Inquestmen may refresh themselves at their own houses, 1694 and reprints 1702-1839; Precepts, rules and regulations regarding the conduct of Inquestmen, 1625-1796 and 1801-1852; returns to a precept to return an account of all dancing and fencing schools, lotteries and other gaming houses, 1673- 1674 and notes on the nature and jurisdiction of the Great Courts of Wardmote, 1857-1907.
Large scale ward plans by Samuel Agnall and Michael Meredith, 1858, of individual wards including Aldersgate Within, Aldersgate Without, Aldgate, Bassishaw, Billingsgate, Bishopsgate Within, Bishopsgate Without, Bread Street, Bridge, Broad Street, Candlewick, Castle Baynard, Cheap, Coleman Street, Cordwainer, Cornhill, Cripplegate Within, Cripplegate Without, Dowgate, Farringdon Within, Farringdon Without, Langbourn, Lime Street, Portsoken, Queenhithe, Tower, Vintry and Walbrook. Also ward map, 1950.
Financial and administrative papers including returns of the numbers of freemen, non-freemen, householders, houses and so on in each ward, 1772 and 1833; report regarding the employment of Ward Beadles, 1928; legal notes, correspondence and agreements relating to the ownership of various Ward Maces, 1923-1974; orders relating to exemptions from holding offices, 1637-1741; ward rate accounts, 1892-1902; ward rate cash books, 1842-1882 and ward rate ledgers, 1842-1876.
Corporation of LondonRecords of Sir John Cass's Foundation and associated institutions. The archive is arranged as follows:
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Minutes, Ms 31010-18;
- Accounts, Ms 31019-38, Ms 19627;
- Legal papers, Ms 31039-54;
- Correspondence, Ms 31055-63;
- Estates records, Ms 31064-97, Ms 19628;
- Cass School, Ms 31098-124;
- Sir John Cass Technical Institute, Ms 31125-37;
- St Botolph Aldgate Parochial School, Ms 31138-55;
- Billingsgate and Tower Wards School, Ms 31156-64;
- Bridge, Candlewick and Dowgate Wards School, Ms 31165-6;
- Broad Street Ward School, Ms 31167-76;
- Cornhill, Lime Street and Langbourn Wards School, Ms 31177-88;
- Red Coat School, Ms 31189-95;
- Aldgate and Allhallows Barking Exhibition Foundation, Ms 31196-225;
- Aldgate Freedom Foundation, Ms 31226-9;
- Butler's Charity, Ms 31230-46;
- St Botolph Aldgate Union Fund, Ms 31247-9;
- St Dunstan's Educational Foundation, Ms 31250-78;
- Miscellaneous records, Ms 31279-85.
The records of the Hackney estate remain uncatalogued at present, as do a large number of miscellaneous deeds and legal papers, mostly 18th century, which probably belonged to the private clients of Jeremiah Bentham, the Charity's receiver.
Papers of the Court of Aldermen of the Corporation of London, including cases relating to constables, 1748-1784; extracts from proceedings of the Court of Aldermen, 1532 and 1631; and documents relating to the swearing in (and discharge from) the office of alderman of the ward of Farringdon Within of Thomas Polhill, 1669.
Court of Aldermen , Corporation of LondonRecords of various temporary committees of the Court of Aldermen, 1705-1865, including minutes of all the Aldermanic committees, particularly Gaol, with other subjects such as Cattle, Saltmeters, Watermen, petition of Drysalters against Brokers, Ganger and Riots, 1790-1794 and 1808-1815; papers of the Assize of Bread Committee, 1795; papers of the committee to enquire into the complaints touching several extensive fees demanded and received in the outer Chamber, at the binding of Apprentices and in making free, 1705-1706; minutes of Committee to consider of the duty and nature of the office of Chamberlain, 1727; papers of the Committee on the Chamberlain's income, 1843; papers of Committee of Aldermen on convicts, 1786-1787; minutes of the Committee of Aldermen to prepare a petition to the House of Commons to stop exportation of corn, 1765; minutes of Committees regarding the election of Aldermen, 1710 and 1769; minutes of Committee to consider the conduct of Marshalmen, 1798; papers of a Committee of Aldermen to take into consideration the state of the unclaimed dividend of the orphans fund, 1802; minutes of Committee regarding Oyster grounds, 1775; minutes of a Committee to provide plate for use of Lord Mayor, 1770-1771; report and papers of a Committee appointed to consider necessary repairs and additions to the Mansion House plate, 1842; proceedings of the Shipwrights Petition Committee, 1782; minutes of a Committee to examine Wardmote Presentments, Jan 1738/39 - May 1739, with summary of Wardmote Presentments to be examined, 1738-1741; letters and regulations regarding street traffic, 1851-1865.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Prisons Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minutes and papers of the Committees of the Court of Aldermen appointed to consider prison affairs, 1794-1797; minutes of the Committee of Aldermen appointed to enquire into the number and state of the prisoners in the gaols of the City, 14 Dec 1784 - 1 Feb 1785 and minutes of the Committee to examine the allegations by the keepers of Newgate, Ludgate and the two Compters as to the Act for taking away liquour taps in the prisons, 1786-1787.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Finance Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minutes 1852-1966 and committee papers, 1856-1900.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Committee of the Whole Court of Aldermen, comprising minute book and papers, 1836 and rough minutes, 1821-1825.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Privileges Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minutes, 1846-1954 and rough minutes, 1966-1979. Please note that some records are closed.
Corporation of LondonThis constitutes a selection of the correspondence and papers of Clayton, Morris and Co. The majority of the correspondence and documents in this collection are addressed to Sir Robert Clayton, John Morris, and Peter Clayton (nephew of Sir Robert), and date from the second half of the 17th century. In addition, there is some material from the first half of the 17th century addressed to Robert Abbott, and some from the 18th century addressed to Sir William Clayton (nephew of Sir Robert) and Sir Kenrick Clayton (son of Sir William). There are also a few letters of 19th century date addressed to Sir William. The entire correspondence of Clayton, Morris and Co. is grouped alphabetically by the name of the correspondent, and those sections acquired as part of this collection cover the letters B, parts of C, D, F, G, H, M, N, O, P, parts of S, T, W, Y, and Z. The collection also includes receipts, bills, bonds, promissory notes, wills, affidavits, and indentures.
Clayton, Morris & Co , scriveners, merchant bankers and estate agents LondonRecords of the Court of Aldermen, 1495-2004, including repertories (proceedings), 1495-1998; subject index to repertories, 1495-1857; fair minutes, 1691-1716; rough minutes, 1691-1932; Town Clerk's rough books, 1957-1996; draft minutes, 1801-1936 and 1941-1955; printed minutes, 1853-2000; signed printed minutes, 1940-2000; agendas, 1938-2003; special agendas, 1928-2000; papers read in the Court, 1663-2004; various petitions, 17th and 18th century; printed reports, 1713-1714 and 1997-1998; pocket books, 1828-1999; papers relating to the election of Aldermen, 1443-1941; list of the names of Aldermen, 1270-1898; various papers regarding the admission, attendance and role of Aldermen, 1611-1979. Please note that some records are closed.
Corporation of LondonMinute book of the Administration of Justice Committee, Court of Aldermen, dated November 1781.
Corporation of LondonThe papers of Abbott, Clayton and Morris consist of the business and family records of two generations and form one of the earliest and largest extant collections of Stuart-era financial records. There are also related records of Sir George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem (1648-1689), a close personal friend of Robert Clayton. (Clayton was appointed by Jeffreys as a trustee of his family settlement drawn up in 1689.) Jeffreys was Common Serjeant (1671-1678) and Recorder of London (1678-1680).
Clayton and Morris , scriveners, merchant bankers and estate agentsRecords of the Police Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minutes, 1825-1843; minutes of evidence, 1834 and committee papers, 1825-1846.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the General Purposes Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minute books, 1843-1992 and committee papers, 1841-1956. Please note that some records are closed.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Magistracy Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minutes, 1952-1969; committee papers, 1952-1962; relevant printed Acts of Parliament and Orders of Council and a plan of the Mayor's Court showing the proposed site of the Guildhall Justice Room, 1956. Please note that some of these records are closed.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Gaol Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minutes, 1817-1857; rough minutes, 1794-1795 and 1815-1816; committee papers, 1812-1866; reports, 1843-1878; orders, 1867 and 1871-1878; financial accounts, 1859-1878 and testimonials, 1849-1865.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Livery Cloth Committee, Court of Aldermen, comprising minute books, 1863-1924.
Corporation of LondonMinute book of the Parliamentary Committtee, Court of Aldermen, 1856.
Corporation of LondonLucas Birch day book (1775-1778), Birch and Son and Birch and Birch cash books (1785-1788, 1803-1808, 1813-1818), Ring and Brymer cash books (1856-1876), annual returns (1952-1955), photographs (1954-1989) and also special and state occasion menus books which are catalogued in detail (1910-1983).
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Please note: special and state occasion menus books (1910-1964) remain uncatalogued please see staff for further information.
Birch , Lucas , d 1800 , confectioner and catererRecords 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.
Corporation of London