Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1395-1974 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
278 production units
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
An organisation of cordwainers appears to have existed at an early date; the first ordinances were granted in 1272. However, the company's charters only date from 1439, with the grant of arms not until 1579. Cordwainers worked with leather (especially cordwain or cordovan leather) to make shoes, bottles and harnesses.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/L/CJ 1395-1974 Collection 278 production units Worshipful Company of Cordwainers
An organisation of cordwainers appears to have existed at an early date; the first ordinances were granted in 1272. However, the company's charters only date from 1439, with the grant of arms not until 1579. Cordwainers worked with leather (especially cordwain or cordovan leather) to make shoes, bottles and harnesses.
This collection has been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1952. 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 Cordwainers, 1395-1974. The collection includes charters, ordinances and grant of arms; title deeds and other property records; Court minute books; Committee minute books; register of freedom admissions; register of apprentice bindings; inventories; financial accounts and wine cellar stock books.
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.
To assist the user the catalogue has been arranged in sections each with an archival classification number as follows:
CLC/L/CJ/A Consitutional records,
CLC/L/CJ/B Court records,
CLC/L/CJ/C Membership records,
CLC/L/CJ/D Financial records,
CLC/L/CJ/E Trade records,
CLC/L/CJ/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/CJ/G Charities and estates
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
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, Latin and French.
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Please see Cordwainers: shoemakers of the City of London. A history of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers of the City of London by Clive Willcocks (2008). Guildhall Library reference L 37:C 796.
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 England UK Western Europe Europe London City of London Organizations Worshipful Company of Cordwainers Associations Guilds Trade guilds People People by occupation Personnel Skilled personnel Leather workers Shoemakers Freedom admissions Freedom of a city Rights and privileges Documents Information sources Administration of justice
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This collection has been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1952. 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 Cordwainers, 1395-1974. The collection includes charters, ordinances and grant of arms; title deeds and other property records; Court minute books; Committee minute books; register of freedom admissions; register of apprentice bindings; inventories; financial accounts and wine cellar stock books.
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
To assist the user the catalogue has been arranged in sections each with an archival classification number as follows:
CLC/L/CJ/A Consitutional records,
CLC/L/CJ/B Court records,
CLC/L/CJ/C Membership records,
CLC/L/CJ/D Financial records,
CLC/L/CJ/E Trade records,
CLC/L/CJ/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/CJ/G Charities and estates
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
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, Latin and French.
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