Collection GB 0074 CLC/L/BE - WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BOWYERS

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/L/BE

Title

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BOWYERS

Date(s)

  • 1679-2000 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

78 production units

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The earliest reference to the company is in 1371 when an agreement with the Fletchers established the two crafts (of bow making and arrow making) as independent. In 1488 they received a grant of arms. The Bowyers were granted a charter on 25 May 1621. Although the trade of bow making has disappeared, the Company continues to support archery. The company had a hall in Noble Street until the 1630s.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/L/BE 1679-2000 Collection 78 production units Worshipful Company of Bowyers

The earliest reference to the company is in 1371 when an agreement with the Fletchers established the two crafts (of bow making and arrow making) as independent. In 1488 they received a grant of arms. The Bowyers were granted a charter on 25 May 1621. Although the trade of bow making has disappeared, the Company continues to support archery. The company had a hall in Noble Street until the 1630s.

The archives were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1949 and 2001. 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 Bowyers, 1679-2000 (the records were compiled from 1679, but they include copies of earlier material). Records include Court minute books; registers of freedom admissions; apprenticeship indentures; financial accounts and papers relating to bequests. Please note that MS32812/2-4 (minutes, 1971-1994) are subject to a 30-year closure period.

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 archive classification code as follows:
CLC/L/BE/A: Constitutional records
CLC/L/BE/B: Court records
CLC/L/BE/C: Membership records
CLC/L/BE/D: Financial records
CLC/L/BE/E: Trade records
CLC/L/BE/F: Clerk's records
CLC/L/BE/G: Charities and estates

Restricted access: please see staff.

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

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 Military organizations Western Europe Europe England London City of London Worshipful Company of Bowyers Armed forces Athletes People by roles Freemen Soldiers Archers (military) Organizations UK Associations Guilds Trade guilds Military equipment Weapons Bows Leisure Leisure time activities Sport Target sports Archery Information sources Documents Apprenticeship records People People by occupation Sportsmen Archers (sportsmen) Bowyers Skilled personnel Personnel Freedom admissions Freedom of a city Rights and privileges Administration of justice Equipment

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The archives were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1949 and 2001. 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 Bowyers, 1679-2000 (the records were compiled from 1679, but they include copies of earlier material). Records include Court minute books; registers of freedom admissions; apprenticeship indentures; financial accounts and papers relating to bequests. Please note that MS32812/2-4 (minutes, 1971-1994) are subject to a 30-year closure period.

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 archive classification code as follows:
CLC/L/BE/A: Constitutional records
CLC/L/BE/B: Court records
CLC/L/BE/C: Membership records
CLC/L/BE/D: Financial records
CLC/L/BE/E: Trade records
CLC/L/BE/F: Clerk's records
CLC/L/BE/G: Charities and estates

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Restricted access: please see staff.

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