Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1413-1985 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
387 production units
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers was incorporated by royal charter in 1453 as the "Fraternity or Guild of St George of the Men of the Mystery of Armourers of our City of London", although it was certainly in existence from the early 14th century. Various other Companies were absorbed during their history, including helmet makers (the Heamers Company), armour repairers (the Fourters Company), the Bladesmiths Company and workers in copper and brass.
The Company leased a hall in Coleman Street in the City of London from 1346 and purchased this site in 1428. This hall survived the Great Fire, was rebuilt in 1840 and again survived damage during World War Two. The Armourers and Brasiers' Company had almshouses in Camden Avenue, Camberwell.
Repository
Archival history
A number of records, including original ordinances and grants of arms, have been retained at the Company's Hall.
GB 0074 CLC/L/AB 1413-1985 Collection 387 production units Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers
The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers was incorporated by royal charter in 1453 as the "Fraternity or Guild of St George of the Men of the Mystery of Armourers of our City of London", although it was certainly in existence from the early 14th century. Various other Companies were absorbed during their history, including helmet makers (the Heamers Company), armour repairers (the Fourters Company), the Bladesmiths Company and workers in copper and brass.
The Company leased a hall in Coleman Street in the City of London from 1346 and purchased this site in 1428. This hall survived the Great Fire, was rebuilt in 1840 and again survived damage during World War Two. The Armourers and Brasiers' Company had almshouses in Camden Avenue, Camberwell.
A number of records, including original ordinances and grants of arms, have been retained at the Company's Hall.
The records of the Company have been deposited with the Manscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1967. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.
Records of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers. The records were compiled from the early 15th century, but they include title deeds from 1290. Records include charters; ordinances; Court minute books; minute books of Master and Wardens meetings; papers relating to bursaries and benefactions; lists of Masters and Wardens; registers of apprentice bindings and freedom admissions; quarterage books; financial accounts; papers relating to charities and almshouses; papers relating to estates owned by the Company; inventories; plans of Armourer's Hall; deeds and other legal documents relating to property owned by the Company.
The archive also includes records of Camden almshouses, 1895 - 1947 (Ms 33960 and Ms 35052A, 2 production units). They include rules and orders, sale particulars, licences and correspondence. Further references may be found in other Company records such as minutes and accounts.
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.
The records were catalogued by various members of staff over many years. As the catalogue is large and complex, and to assist the user, the catalogue has been arranged in sections, each with an archival classification code as follows:
CLC/L/AB/A Constitutional records,
CLC/L/AB/B Court records,
CLC/L/AB/C Membership records,
CLC/L/AB/D Financial records,
CLC/L/AB/E Trade records,
CLC/L/AB/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/AB/G Charities and estates.
Available for general access.
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. For further information please see LMA Research Guide "Consulting Archives at Guildhall Library", available at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm
Copyright: Depositor.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For further information relating to Livery Companies, particularly using the company records for family history, please see Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Livery Company Membership Guide" and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Leaflet Guides to Records: Searching for Members or those apprenticed to Members of City of London Livery Companies" (both available online).
"The Armourers' company of London and the Greenwich school of armourers" by Charles Ffoulkes, Archaeologia, vol.76, 1927; "The Armourers' bill of 1581: the making of arms and armour in sixteenth-century London", by Claude Blair, Journal of the Arms & armour society, vol.XII no.1, March 1986; and Armourers and Brasiers' Company, c1610-1800, abstracted and indexed by Cliff Webb, 1998. All available at the Guildhall Library (closed access, ask at ticket desk).
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. Oct-09 Southwark Europe City of London Armouries Military buildings Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers Camberwell London England UK Western Europe Architecture Buildings Residential buildings Almshouses People People by roles Freemen Metallurgy Metalworking Organizations Associations Guilds Trade guilds Armour Information sources Documents Apprenticeship records Military equipment Weapons Freedom admissions Freedom of a city Rights and privileges Administration of justice Equipment
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The records of the Company have been deposited with the Manscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1967. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers. The records were compiled from the early 15th century, but they include title deeds from 1290. Records include charters; ordinances; Court minute books; minute books of Master and Wardens meetings; papers relating to bursaries and benefactions; lists of Masters and Wardens; registers of apprentice bindings and freedom admissions; quarterage books; financial accounts; papers relating to charities and almshouses; papers relating to estates owned by the Company; inventories; plans of Armourer's Hall; deeds and other legal documents relating to property owned by the Company.
The archive also includes records of Camden almshouses, 1895 - 1947 (Ms 33960 and Ms 35052A, 2 production units). They include rules and orders, sale particulars, licences and correspondence. Further references may be found in other Company records such as minutes and accounts.
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.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The records were catalogued by various members of staff over many years. As the catalogue is large and complex, and to assist the user, the catalogue has been arranged in sections, each with an archival classification code as follows:
CLC/L/AB/A Constitutional records,
CLC/L/AB/B Court records,
CLC/L/AB/C Membership records,
CLC/L/AB/D Financial records,
CLC/L/AB/E Trade records,
CLC/L/AB/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/AB/G Charities and estates.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
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. For further information please see LMA Research Guide "Consulting Archives at Guildhall Library", available at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: Depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
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
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
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