Collection GB 0074 CLC/L/FJ - WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FARMERS

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/L/FJ

Title

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FARMERS

Date(s)

  • 1947-2005 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

97 production units

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The foundation of the Company can be traced back to the Red Cross Agriculture Fund which raised over £8 million from the agricultural and horticultural industries during World War II. On 23 September 1946 the Company of Agriculturalists was formed, but the name was changed to the Company of Farmers in the following year. The Company received its grant of livery in 1952 and charter of incorporation in 1955.

One of the Company's initiatives is the advanced course in Agricultural Business Management (originally called Farm Business Management), which started in 1963. The course is administered by Wye College (which became Imperial College Wye in 2000), University of London, and is held at Ashford in Kent. A leading role was likewise undertaken by the Company in the establishment of the Centre for European Agricultural Studies at Withersdane, near Ashford, which opened in 1975. The Company also maintains two trust funds: the Lord Lonsdale Fund, set up in 1985, and the Geoffrey and Isla Parsons Fund, in 1987, which offer grants to students on the courses.

A site was purchased for a livery hall in 1970 and 1976 in Newbury Street and Middle Street. In 1983 it was decided to build a joint hall with the Fletchers. The foundation stone of the hall was laid in 1986 and it was opened in 1987 at 3 Cloth Fair.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/L/FJ 1947-2005 Collection 97 production units Worshipful Company of Farmers

The foundation of the Company can be traced back to the Red Cross Agriculture Fund which raised over £8 million from the agricultural and horticultural industries during World War II. On 23 September 1946 the Company of Agriculturalists was formed, but the name was changed to the Company of Farmers in the following year. The Company received its grant of livery in 1952 and charter of incorporation in 1955.

One of the Company's initiatives is the advanced course in Agricultural Business Management (originally called Farm Business Management), which started in 1963. The course is administered by Wye College (which became Imperial College Wye in 2000), University of London, and is held at Ashford in Kent. A leading role was likewise undertaken by the Company in the establishment of the Centre for European Agricultural Studies at Withersdane, near Ashford, which opened in 1975. The Company also maintains two trust funds: the Lord Lonsdale Fund, set up in 1985, and the Geoffrey and Isla Parsons Fund, in 1987, which offer grants to students on the courses.

A site was purchased for a livery hall in 1970 and 1976 in Newbury Street and Middle Street. In 1983 it was decided to build a joint hall with the Fletchers. The foundation stone of the hall was laid in 1986 and it was opened in 1987 at 3 Cloth Fair.

The Company's archives were deposited with the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 2001 and 2006. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff in 2002 and 2007.

Records of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, 1947-2005, including ordinances; Court and Committee minute books; membership lists; correspondence files; financial accounts; newsletters; Clerk's files; histories; photographs; papers relating to Wye College and papers relating to property.

THESE RECORDS (EXCEPT PRINTED ITEMS MS 33643/1, 33648, 33650) ARE SUBJECT TO A 30 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD. A 70 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO MS 38544-5.

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:
A: Constitutional records;
B: Court records;
C: Membership records;
D: Financial records;
F: Clerk's records;
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 City of London London Imperial College at Wye Worshipful Company of Farmers Rural population Rural areas Farmers Agricultural research Europe Western Europe UK England Organizations Associations Guilds Trade guilds People People by occupation Personnel Agricultural personnel Agriculture Farming Agricultural economics Land economics Landholding Agricultural holdings Farms

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The Company's archives were deposited with the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 2001 and 2006. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff in 2002 and 2007.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, 1947-2005, including ordinances; Court and Committee minute books; membership lists; correspondence files; financial accounts; newsletters; Clerk's files; histories; photographs; papers relating to Wye College and papers relating to property.

THESE RECORDS (EXCEPT PRINTED ITEMS MS 33643/1, 33648, 33650) ARE SUBJECT TO A 30 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD. A 70 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO MS 38544-5.

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:
A: Constitutional records;
B: Court records;
C: Membership records;
D: Financial records;
F: Clerk's records;
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