Collection of papers relating to the Corporation of London, including legal cases, legal opinions, and legal precedents; papers relating to the "Quo Warranto" proceedings against the City; papers relating to civil defence; property transactions such as deeds and leases; illuminated addresses; notes on the customs, privileges, constitution and history of the Corporation; reports and minutes; and translations of charters.

Records of the Court of Exchequer, comprising Exchequer bill; roll of estreats of fines and forfeitures at the sessions of the peace for London and Middlesex; and record book relating to the King's revenue.

Calendar of gaol delivery for the Middlesex House of Correction, known as Cold Bath Fields Prison, 1832.

Records of the court of Quarter Sessions, London, comprising lists of jurors for Bridge Ward, Aldgate Ward, Bassishaw Ward and Farringdon Within Ward.

Records of the Quarter Sessions for London and Middlesex, including certificate of conviction; examination book of vagabonds apprehended in the City of London; Newgate gaol calendars; and petition for victualling licence.

Records of the Liberty of the Tower comprising: verdict and presentment of jurors of the court leet, 1837 (Ms 5210); court leet roll, 1789 (Ms 21651); overseer's book, 1878-95 (Ms 2563); and vestry minute book, 1878-95 (Ms 2662).

Collection of Diocesan records; including surveyors plans for City of London properties in the estates of the Diocese of Southwark; precedent and case books for ecclesiastical jurisdiction; baptisms, marriage and burial register for the garrison at the Cape of Good Hope, 1795-1803; transcripts and calendars of various Diocesan records; list of the bishops of London, 1540-1787; and a parish register for Saint Mary's, Leyton, 1575-1783.

Papers collected by Sir John Silvester, Recorder of the City of London, on various aspects of the administration of justice within the City of London; including precedents of indictments and pleadings, copies of charges, notes on points of law and legal customs.

Records of the novelist George Payne Rainsford James and his family, a total of about 350 items, with documents relating to other families, either short series or isolated items. There are several wills and settlements among the papers (ACC/0976/136-155). The manuscript of chapters 14-22 of the novel Ehrenstein is preserved among these archives (ACC/0976/163). There is a series of title deeds to an entailed estate at Hampton Wick and Teddington inherited by James; papers relating to law-suits with various publishers (ACC/0976/156-171); and a petition to the Foreign Secretary (ACC/0976/222).

Estreat to deputy Sheriff of Middlesex Humfrey Wyrley, from roll 1274 of the Court of Common Pleas, in action between Gilbert Wharton of Shandois Street, Covent Garden and Curwen Rawlinson late of Grays Inn, relating to the provision of board and lodging for Rawlinson, his wife Elizabeth and his two servants.

Notes of the evidence given against Lord Howard of Escrick at the Grand Inquest of the Hundred of Edmonton and Gore in the County of Middlesex; taken by Sir Charles Lee, 1681.

Royal pardon granted to Sarah Evans, previously convicted at Middlesex Sessions of the Peace, 13 Feb 1798, of petty larceny, and sentenced to transportation for seven years.

Two legal documents, comprising an agreement allowing Thomas Earl of Stamford, Sir Henry Hobart and Sir William Rawlinson access to the law books of the late Sir John Maynard, which were being held by Maynard Colchester of the Middle Temple, London, 1694; and a renewal of Commission in bankruptcy against Charles Pearce and James Pearce of Castle Street, Leicester Fields, Middlesex, tailors and co-partners, 1787.

Pardon for prisoners at Millbank Prison, 1828.

Records of Edmonton Petty Sessional Division, comprising minutes of summary proceedings held at Watch House and Angel Inn, Edmonton, 2 Jan 1837 - 21 Dec 1838. Cases heard include felonies, assault, larceny, highway offences, retailing beer etc. without licence, obstruction, injury to property etc. Volume records detailed statements by witnesses, statutes governing cases, outcome of each case. At rear of volume is a summary of cases heard with details of fines etc. Name index at front of volume. Volume also includes records of medical prescriptions prepared for named persons, January 1859.

Records of the Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company, 1821-1878, including Directors' meeting minutes and orders; Shareholders' meeting signed minutes; Committee for General Purposes signed minutes; Committee for Works signed minutes; Committee for Accounts signed minutes; appointments and emoluments of Officers; Committee for Works rough minutes; summary of half-yearly accounts of Metropolitan Gas Companies including The Imperial, Gas Light and Coke Company, Commercial, Independent, Ratcliff, London, Phoenix, South Metropolitan and Surrey Consumers and bound volume of Acts relating to the Company, Gas, Public Companies and so on.

Records of the Ratcliff Gas Light and Coke Company, including Bill and Act (4 Geo. IV cap. xcviii) for lighting with gas the parishes of St. Botolph, Aldgate, St. Paul, Shadwell, and parts of St. George-in-the-East, St. John, Wapping, Mile End Old Town and Ratcliff, 1823; notices; particulars of sale of shares in the company; agreements and contracts; papers relating to legal actions and lawsuits; correspondence; and papers relating to Company premises in Stepney and Wapping.

Records of the Equitable Gas Light and Coke Company, including endorsement to be made on the deed of settlement, 1835; supplemental deed of settlement, 1838; certificate of formal registration of the company, 1844; reports of the Company's Directors; papers relating to legal proceedings and lawsuits; correspondence; agreements and contracts; papers relating to premises owned by the Company in Kensington, Westminster, Pimlico and Chelsea.

Records of Stephen Green Limited, patent medicine manufacturer, 1780-1930. The records relate to proprietorship of the recipe for "Doctor Johnson's Golden Ointment" including legal documents and legal case papers; and records relating to the manufacture and sale of the ointment including financial accounts, order books, correspondence, sales summaries, testimonials, advertising, legislation involving patent medicines and history of the ointment. Also various family and estate records.

Records of Bow County Court, 1847-1962, including minute books; plaint and minute books; Workmen's Compensation Act register; and default actions books.

Records of Wandsworth County Court, 1911-1968, including ordinary summons books; default summons books; defended default books; judgement summons books and funds ledgers.

Records of Woolwich County Court, 1872-1995, including minute book; ordinary summons books; ordinary actions books; judges' note books; bills of sale and court service expenditure ledger.

Records of Lambeth County Court, 1847-1964, including ordinary summons minute books; default summons minute books; and Workmen's Compensation Act files and registers.

Records of West London County Court, 1847-1948, including minute books; ledger of equity proceedings; plaint book; default summons books; ordinary summons books; bankruptcy administration ledger; Workmen's Compensation Act register; judge's register; register of agreements and committal summons book.

Records of Edmonton County Court, 1894-1944, comprising plaint and minute book and ordinary action book.

Records of Southwark County Court, 1820-1961, comprising attorneys roll book, 1820-1933 and legal case files for the following cases:

Parfett v C. Coules and son and another, 1900
Edwards v Measures Bros Ltd, 1907
Medcalf v Surrey Commercial Dock Co, 1908
Finnis v Owners of S.S. 'Grive', 1909
Martin v Morris, 1909
Roberts v E Wells and Sons Ltd, 1911
Maisey v London Brighton and South Coast Railway Co, 1912
Fenton v F and H F Higgs, 1912
Sketton v Owners of the ship 'South Point', 1913
Hood v Bellamys Wharf Ltd, 1913
Doolan v Port of London Authority, 1914
Eyles v Lipton Ltd, 1915
Dinnes v Holland Hannen and Cubitts Ltd, 1916
Davis v Samuel Barrow and Brother Ltd, 1916
Baldock v E Lazenby and Son Ltd, 1917
Runnalls v London General Omnibus Co Ltd, 1917
Seabrook v E Lazenby and Son Ltd, 1919
Armstrong v H J Enthoven & Sons Ltd, 1919
Allan v Andrews, 1920
McCoy v Peek Frean and Co Ltd, 1920
Spencer v W T and E Yates, 1923
Finn v Southern Railway Company, 1924
Harrigan v Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd, 1926
Friend v Pimm and Burrows Ltd, 1926
Walker v Southern Railway Company, 1927
Knight v Barclay Perkins and Co Ltd, 1927
Colbert v Gatesby Ltd, 1932
Bowie v Wakeley Brothers and Company Ltd, 1932
Vaughan v F W Barnard Ltd, 1933
Callan v J T Healey & Co Ltd, 1933
Rainsbury v G Bernardes and Son, 1933
Dillon v Bermondsey Borough Council, 1934
Jeal v Butler's Wharf Ltd, 1934
Dawes v E Ashby and Co, 1935
Kitsell v Maybury, 1935
Sivyer v W S Shuttleworth and Co Ltd, 1935
Bull v W J Hall Ltd, 1935
Ward v Waldron, 1935
Curtis v Hares, 1936
Marchant v Butler's Wharf Ltd, 1937
Bertie v Grey and Marten, 1937
Saunders v J Bowbrick and Sons, 1937
Rodgers v A Cohen and Company Ltd, 1938
Leahy v Bermondsey Borough Council, 1938
Whiffin v Eldorado Ice Cream Co Ltd, 1938
S eet v Beck and Pollitzer Ltd, 1946
Quigley v Unit Construction Co Ltd, 1947
Henderson v Levy, 1948-1957
Wheatley v T F Maltby Ltd, 1949
Hubble v Lawrence Bros, 1949
Laker v Boots Pure Drug Co Ltd 1950
Felton v T Wallis Ltd, 1951
Murphy v London County Council, 1952
Buckle v London County Council, 1953
Goldsmith v Rosser and Russell Ltd, 1954
Purdy v Port of London Authority, 1961.

Papers relating to the Mansion House Justice Room, including records of cases brought before the Mayor, 1624-1990; administrative records; regulations and duties of the clerks and officers of the court, evidence produced at trials, rotas of attendance of justices, orders from the court of aldermen and other miscellaneous historical material.

Records of the City of London Coroner's Court, 1300-1995, including coroner's accounts; inquests; depositions; inquisitions; fire inquests; fire brigade daily fire reports and police reports sent to the City Coroner to inform him about City of London Fires under the provisions of the London Fire Inquests Act, 1888, and prison inquests for Bridewell, Newgate, Fleet and Ludgate Prisons and Whitecross Street, Poultry, Giltspur Street and Southwark (Borough) Compters.

Records of the Southwark Coroner's Court, 1837-1932, including inquests, inquisitions, depositions and no inquest volumes (if a death was reported to the Coroner upon which he decided no inquest was necessary, then a report with details of the death was bound in the series of volumes of No Inquest Cases).

Records of the City of London Police, 1520-2000, including papers of the Chief officer and Police Commissioner; orders and regulations; papers relating to the building and maintenance of police stations; correspondence; press cuttings; reports; leaflets and brochures; issues of Citywatch, the City of London Police Magazine; papers relating to the City of London Police Reserve (Special Constabulary); papers relating to the Detective Division; manuals and orders; papers relating to the police force during World War Two, including Police War Duties Committee minutes; papers, including photographs and plans, relating to the Houndsditch murders, 1910-1911; record of the inquest held in 1888 by the Coroner of the City of London on Catherine Eddowes, one of the victims of 'Jack the Ripper', and other correspondence relating to the 'Jack the Ripper' murders; records of predecessors to the City of London Police including constables and watch and ward; and financial accounts.

Records of the Holford family, lawyers. Although the records relate to litigation in Chancery, they concern both the Holfords' professional activities as practising lawyers, and their private litigation as substantial landowners in Gloucestershire and Somerset and in connection with large sums of money which they placed out at interest.

The collection includes records relating to Sir Richard Holford's manor of Southover and Nyland near Wells in Somerset, 1667-1717 (Ms 15588). The division between these two professional and private fields of activity is indistinct, particularly in view of the known speculative practices of masters in Chancery with the funds of the suitors of the court.

Furthermore, a number of the papers of Sir Thomas Estcourt (fl 1660-80) appear to have become incorporated into the archive, probably having been transferred to Sir Richard Holford on Estcourt's retirement or death.

Records of the City Solicitor, Corporation of London, including briefs for cases at the Old Bailey, Guildhall Sessions, Mayor's Court and other courts, 1802-1851; papers relating to various suits regarding the Metropolitan railway, police regulations, Holborn Valley Improvement, oyster metage, Thames Navigation, the Coal Exchange, London Bridge approach roads and other subjects, 1800-1870; papers regarding the Corporation decision to demolish All Hallows Church, Lombard Street, including photographs, maps, plans, petitions, reports, parliamentary debates, press cuttings and journals, correspondence and information on the proposed merger with St Edmund the King, 1926-1937; papers regarding William Ward's bequest including his will and documents relating to the creation of the City of London School for Girls, 1881-1892; papers regarding the case of the Mayor vs Lyons Son and Company, 1929-1939; papers regarding the case of Potter Oyler vs the Mayor, 1937; report books, 1797-1798 and 1863-1945; order books, 1764-1778, 1797-1803 and 1834-1837; bills, fees, payments and receipts, 1671-1862; notes on crown prosecutions, 1791-1797 and 1835-1847 and extracts regarding the office of solicitor, 1755-1776 and 1803.

Custumals including the Liber de Antiquis Legibus, an historical, political and domestic chronicle covering 1188-1274, compiled in 1274; the Liber Horn, made in 1311 under the direction of Andrew Horn, City Chamberlain, containing transcripts of charters, statutes, grants, customs, charters of companies and towns, precedents, oaths, writs and the "Laws of Oleron" [code of maritime regulation, written 1150]; the Liber de Assisa Panis containing the customs, regulations and punishments connected with the Assize of Bread, 1293-1438; the Liber Ordinationum, a volume of ordinances, customs, legal treatises and statutes from Magna Carta (1215) to 1330; the Liber Custumarum, a volume of City customs, laws, charters, proceedings and municipal regulations, 1324?; the Carte Antique, illuminated transcripts of charters and statutes, 1327-1498; the Statuta Antiqua Angliae, a copy of the Carte Antique covering the period 1327-1430; the Decretales Gregorii Papae, compilation of decretals [papal decrees] promulgated in 1235, with glosses upon the text; the Liber Dunthorn, containing transcripts of charters and extracts from Letter Books and other City records, compiled under the direction of William Dunthorn, Town Clerk, 1474?; the Liber Fleetwood, presented to the City by William Fleetwood, Recorder, 1576, containing information on the Courts of Law and the Mayor, Aldermen and other officers in the year 1576, as well as the liberties, franchises and customs of the City, the liberties, customs and charters of the Cinque Ports [Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich], the Queen's prerogative in the salt shores and the liberties of Saint Martin le Grand; the Liber Albus, compiled under the direction of John Carpenter, Town Clerk, 1419, containing information regarding customs, laws, social conditions, trade and the general conduct of a municipality; the Liber Legum [or Liber Legum Civitatis], extracts from the City Letter Books, 1342-1590; the Liber Lynne, transcripts of deeds of the possessions of the families of Lawneye and Wyth in Lynne, London and Southwark, 1281-1452; proceedings in the Star Chamber with extracts from charters, statutes, inquisitions and other authorities as to the preservation of the navigation of the River Lea, particularly in relation to Waltham Bridge, 1524 and a book containing proceedings against the Hanse merchants of the Steelyard [Hanse merchants traded with foreign ports] resulting in loss of their privileges, 1551-1556, with papers added in relation to the exemption of the Steelyard from assessments and taxes, 1653-1699.

Document relating to a plea heard at Westminster, 1807: Crichton Horne and Edward Finch, (plaintiffs) v John Moore.

Calendars of prisoners for various Courts of Law, 1881-1961, including:

Rochester Sessions;
Central Criminal Court;
Middlesex Sessions;
Surrey Sessions;
Surrey Assizes;
Kent Sessions;
Kent Assizes;
County of London Sessions;
Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Sessions;
Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Assizes;
Essex Sessions;
Essex Assizes;
Gravesend Sessions;
Maidstone Sessions;
Tenterden Sessions;
West Ham Borough Sessions;
Croydon Borough Sessions;
Guildford Borough Sessions;
City of London Sessions;
Hertford, Saint Albans and Saffron Walden Assizes.

Please note that some of these calendars are closed under the Data Protection Act.

Letter from Charles, 2nd Viscount Townsend, to Lord Delaware, chairman of the sessions of the peace for Westminster, announcing the decision that the Treasury Solicitor will in future defend all constables and other peace officers of Westminster in actions brought against them 'for searching houses where Felons and other disorderly Persons resort' by warrant of the justices. Dated 26 October 1728.

Writ of enquiry of damages issued to Sheriff of Middlesex; in case brought by Richard Biggs in Kings Bench against Ann Greenly, widow and Gabriel Ailice, executors of William Greenly, for money owed by the latter to Biggs.

Brief for plaintiff in Court of Common Pleas (John Gandar, plaintiff, and Richard Henry Sheldrick, defendant), with note of fees in the case of Gandar v. Sheldrick, an action to recover damages for seizure of household goods and furniture under execution issued from Palace Court in action at suit of defendant v. William Charles Fisher, landlord of plaintiff; and letter from Gandar to attorney enquiring how the case is progressing and commenting on compensation to officers of the defunct Palace Court.

Legal papers from the office of Sir George Stephen, barrister and solicitor, 1807-1841, including writs issued to Sheriffs of London to take up various persons to answer charges in the Court of King's Bench and Court of Exchequer, 1807, 1822, 1826, 1827, 1832 and 1838; memorial of assignment of lease of land in Saint George Hanover Square, 1815; petition for commission in bankruptcy, by Robert Lang of Wilson Street, Finsbury, merchant, against William Abbott, merchant, dealer and chapman, partner with Richard Arthur Maitland of Madras, East Indies, in firm of Abbott and Maitland, 1820; subpoenas for various persons to appear at Gaol Delivery Sessions for City of London to testify against William White and others for felony, 1821; subpoena for George Holt to appear at Middlesex Sessions of the Peace to testify touching bill of indictment against Thomas Odderley Phipps for libel, 1821; correspondence, 1834-1835, and form of proposal for sale of reversionary interest in personal property of Henry Laing of Camberwell, 1841.

Records of the Middlesex Sessions of the Peace comprising extracts from minutes of the orders of court relating to County business. The extracts were first made in 1819 for the period 1716-1829. Only two entries were made between 1826 and 1829.

Letter from Harold G Broadbridge, Coroner for the County of Middlesex Western Division, to Mr G Chandler, County Councillor, regarding the holding of his first sitting at the Court at Ealing Town Hall.

Papers of the Bore and Pugh families, including papers relating to properties in Stepney, Whitechapel, Tottenham, Limehouse, Shoreditch, Mile End and the City of London; papers of the family relating to their role as executors of various wills; legal papers including a Chancery case; receipts and rents.

One volume comprising a formulary book of indictments, dating to the early eighteenth century.

Legal documents presented to Bankruptcy Courts, including mortgages, assignments, leases, abstract of title, wills and probates, grants, copies of court rolls, admissions, releases, conveyances, agreements, covenants to surrender, letters of administration, deeds of partnership, bills of costs, indentures of fines and marriage settlements; all for premises in Middlesex. Also records of pleas before the King's Bench, Queen's Bench, the Court of Exchequer and the Exchequer of Pleas; all for Middlesex.

Papers of Grundey Hooper, solicitors, including copy of Act for improving navigation of River Lee from Town of Hertford to River Thames; and for extending said navigation to floodgates belonging to Town Mill in Town of Hertford, 1767; legal papers relating to a case, the proprietors of Water of River Lee against Thomas Gates for unlawful fishing at Hackney, 1780; legal documents relating to The King against John Marks (indicted in the name of James) on the prosecution of William Sharpe, for assault, 1781; legal documents relating to The King against Joseph White and William Sharp, both of Hendon, for assault against Henry Copland, 1778-1781; legal papers relating to The King against Robert Davis alias Gaby and Thomas Diter, on the prosecution of John Etheridge for a robbery near the Swan, Hendon, 1781; statements of costs for various cases, 1781-1784; legal papers relating to James Ebenezer Mosely versus George Denton, Chief Beadle of Whitecross Street Liberty and John Evans, Headboro' of Whitecross Street Liberty in Manor of Finsbury, for assault and false imprisonment, 1780-1781; legal papers relating to an Appeal for release from "pressed" service in Navy by James Gray of Highgate, apprentice to Benjamin Pawley, of Jewin Street, baker, who made a voyage on board a Privateer with his master's consent and was impressed from the privateer into the Navy, 1779-1780; legal papers relating to case brought by John Ketcher Watchman of Liberty of Moorfields in Shoreditch, who discovered Joseph Lee and John Cox stealing lead from empty house in Crown Alley, in consequence of which they were committed to Newgate, 1785; legal papers relating to petition of John Seager of Swinton Street, Saint Pancras, builder and others regarding the notice of intention by the Trustees of Turnpike Road leading to Highgate Gatehouse and Hampstead and their lessee, John Evans, to apply for Writ of Certiorari to remove into Kings Bench an order made by Justices of Peace for Middlesex at Quarter Sessions on 22 October 1778 to remove the Turnpike at the end of Grays Inn Lane, 1778; legal papers relating to case of Charles Greentree, indebted to William Montagu in sum of £67 on promissory note payable to Thomas Worraker, 1777; draft agreements; will of Susanna Mole of Isleworth, 1893 and declaration by Middlesex Magistrates, setting out chief items of expenditure, in answer to a petition, 1811.

Records relating to the Middlesex Quarter Sessions of the Peace, comprising a recognizance to appear at the next session, 1722.

Copy of certificate issued by Richard Hassell to William Spencer of South Mimms relating to the privileges of tenants of the Duchy of Lancaster (including exemption from tolls).

London County Council register of tramway track lengths, recording description and lengths of route, street length, track length and remarks, such as "conversion to trolleybus", "abandoned" and so on, [1912-1952], with enclosures: photocopy of map of tramways in the London County Council area, revised to 1931; and diagrams of track lengths in Leyton and Hammersmith.

Records of Brentford Magistrates Court, 1840-1976 and Ealing Magistrates Court, 1919-1988.

Records of Brentford Magistrates Court comprise:

• PS/B/B/01/001-246: Court Registers, 1880-1958, 1965-1976;
• PS/B/B/02/001: Court Minute Books, 1840-1841;
• PS/B/B/04/001-012: Juvenile Court Registers, 1933-1959;

• PS/B/B/08/001-018: Court Administration, 1902-1976.

  Records of Ealing Magistrates Court comprise:

• PS/B/E/01/001-576: Court Registers, 1919-1988;
• PS/B/E/02/001-004: Justices' Attendance Books, 1919-1961;

• PS/B/E/03/001-017: Juvenile Court Registers, 1933-1966.

  Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate. Court minute books or notebooks are rough notes of the proceedings recording the gist of the evidence given.

Records of Bow Street Magistrates Court, 1724-2004, including court registers; domestic proceedings registers; gaoler's records; applications for warrants; club licensing; matrimonial case registers; extradition registers; registers of applications for adoption abroad, adoption abroad procedural and case files; papers relating to magistrates' salaries; files of the Chief Clerk; Poor Box financial accounts, bequests and correspondence; papers relating to trust funds and bequests; Committee files and office administration.

Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate.
Matrimonal cases: A married woman under the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction (Married Women) Act 1895 and subsequent Acts could go to a magistrates' court and apply for orders which in certain circumstances would enable her to separate from her husband, have custody of any children and receive maintenance from him.