Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1728-1991? (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
61 production units
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Goldsmiths' Company is one of the twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. It received its first charter in 1327 from Edward III. In 1339 a house in Foster Lane was purchased which became the site of the Company's hall. A second royal charter was granted in 1393. The hall was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666 and rebuilt, and then rebuilt again in 1835. The Company had responsibility for the quality of gold and silver items. After 1478 these had to be marked in the Goldsmith's Hall (the origin of the term 'hallmark'). The Company founded Goldsmith's College.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/L/GG 1728-1991? Collection 61 production units Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Goldsmiths' Company is one of the twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. It received its first charter in 1327 from Edward III. In 1339 a house in Foster Lane was purchased which became the site of the Company's hall. A second royal charter was granted in 1393. The hall was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666 and rebuilt, and then rebuilt again in 1835. The Company had responsibility for the quality of gold and silver items. After 1478 these had to be marked in the Goldsmith's Hall (the origin of the term 'hallmark'). The Company founded Goldsmith's College.
A small proportion of records have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since the 1950s. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.
Records of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, 1728-1991, mainly comprising legal documents and other records relating to the Hamsell and Birchden estates in Sussex. Also Clerk's general account 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 code as follows: A: Constitutional records, B: Court records, C: Membership records; D: Financial records, E: Trade records, F: Clerk's records, G: Charities and estates. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.
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
N.B. THE MAIN ARCHIVE OF THE GOLDSMITHS' COMPANY IS RETAINED BY THE COMPANY AT THEIR HALL.
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 Land economics Legal documents Law Property Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London x Goldsmith's Company Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths of London City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe Sussex Agricultural economics People People by occupation Personnel Skilled personnel Metal workers Goldsmiths Organizations Guilds Associations Trade guilds Land use Estates (land) Land management Estate management Information sources Documents
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
A small proportion of records have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since the 1950s. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, 1728-1991, mainly comprising legal documents and other records relating to the Hamsell and Birchden estates in Sussex. Also Clerk's general account 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 code as follows: A: Constitutional records, B: Court records, C: Membership records; D: Financial records, E: Trade records, F: Clerk's records, G: Charities and estates. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
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
N.B. THE MAIN ARCHIVE OF THE GOLDSMITHS' COMPANY IS RETAINED BY THE COMPANY AT THEIR HALL.
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
Subject 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