Collection GB 0074 CLC/L/BB - WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BARBERS

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/L/BB

Title

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BARBERS

Date(s)

  • 1550-1917 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

245 production units

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Company received their first charter in 1462. Its members practised barbery (hair cutting and shaving), surgery, bone setting, tooth drawing, bleeding, and the cure of minor maladies. In the 18th century, in accordance with the fashion of the day, barbers also became skilled wig makers. The Fellowship of Surgeons joined with the Company under the provisions of an act of Parliament of 1540 and separated from it again in 1745. Thus the Company was unusual in being governed by both charter and act of Parliament.

Until 1745, the Company took an active part in the development of the surgeon's profession. An anatomy theatre was established at the Hall and the Company was allowed to appoint lecturers in surgery. The Hall is situated in Monkwell Street and the most recent building on the site was opened in 1969.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/L/BB 1550-1917 Collection 245 production units Worshipful Company of Barbers

The Company received their first charter in 1462. Its members practised barbery (hair cutting and shaving), surgery, bone setting, tooth drawing, bleeding, and the cure of minor maladies. In the 18th century, in accordance with the fashion of the day, barbers also became skilled wig makers. The Fellowship of Surgeons joined with the Company under the provisions of an act of Parliament of 1540 and separated from it again in 1745. Thus the Company was unusual in being governed by both charter and act of Parliament.

Until 1745, the Company took an active part in the development of the surgeon's profession. An anatomy theatre was established at the Hall and the Company was allowed to appoint lecturers in surgery. The Hall is situated in Monkwell Street and the most recent building on the site was opened in 1969.

The records of the Company were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates from 1949. They were withdrawn in 1992 (with the exception of Ms 24584) and most are now available on microfilm. 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 Barbers, 1550-1917. The original records (except MS24584) have been returned to the custody of the Clerk at Barber Surgeon's Hall. However, microfilm copies of the following records are available: Court minute books; quarterage books; registers of freedom admissions; registers of apprentice bindings; financial accounts; livery lists, papers relating to property and papers relating to charitable giving. MS 24584 is a draft petition to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen concerning riots which had prevented the Company removing the bodies of four felons for anatomical practice.

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.

As the archive 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/BB/A Constitutional records,
CLC/L/BB/B Court records,
CLC/L/BB/C Membership records,
CLC/L/BB/D Financial records,
CLC/L/BB/E Trade records,
CLC/L/BB/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/BB/G Charities and estates.

Not 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

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Postal address: Barber-Surgeons' Hall, Monkwell Square, Wood Street, London EC2Y 5BL; email: archivist@barberscompany.org; website: http://www.barberscompany.org

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).

For a general introduction to the history of the City of London Livery Companies please see entry in The London Encyclopaedia, ed Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert.
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 Medical sciences Organizations Barbers Associations Europe Western Europe England UK London City of London Worshipful Company of Barbers Physicians People by roles Freemen Guilds Trade guilds Equipment Scientific equipment Anatomical specimens Medical profession Medical personnel Surgeons Information sources Documents Apprenticeship records People People by occupation Personnel

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The records of the Company were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates from 1949. They were withdrawn in 1992 (with the exception of Ms 24584) and most are now available on microfilm. 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 Barbers, 1550-1917. The original records (except MS24584) have been returned to the custody of the Clerk at Barber Surgeon's Hall. However, microfilm copies of the following records are available: Court minute books; quarterage books; registers of freedom admissions; registers of apprentice bindings; financial accounts; livery lists, papers relating to property and papers relating to charitable giving. MS 24584 is a draft petition to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen concerning riots which had prevented the Company removing the bodies of four felons for anatomical practice.

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

As the archive 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/BB/A Constitutional records,
CLC/L/BB/B Court records,
CLC/L/BB/C Membership records,
CLC/L/BB/D Financial records,
CLC/L/BB/E Trade records,
CLC/L/BB/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/BB/G Charities and estates.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Not 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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area