Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1550-1917 (Creation)
Level of description
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.
Repository
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 They were withdrawn in 1992 (with the exception of Ms 24584) and most are now available on microfilm.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
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