Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1550? - 1955 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
112 production units
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The company received its charter of incorporation in 1677, but had been in existence from at least the 14th century, as the first regulations were put forward in 1356 and Arms granted in 1472. There are, however, very few surviving records of the company before the Great Fire, although wardens' accounts survive from 1620. The company's hall, in Masons' Avenue off Basinghall Street, was leased from 1463 and was purchased by the company in 1563. The hall was destroyed in the Great Fire, and subsequently rebuilt. It was sold by the company in 1865. The modern company includes architects and members of the construction industry. Prizes are given to stonemason apprentices.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/L/MB 1550? - 1955 Collection 112 production units Worshipful Company of Masons
The company received its charter of incorporation in 1677, but had been in existence from at least the 14th century, as the first regulations were put forward in 1356 and Arms granted in 1472. There are, however, very few surviving records of the company before the Great Fire, although wardens' accounts survive from 1620. The company's hall, in Masons' Avenue off Basinghall Street, was leased from 1463 and was purchased by the company in 1563. The hall was destroyed in the Great Fire, and subsequently rebuilt. It was sold by the company in 1865. The modern company includes architects and members of the construction industry. Prizes are given to stonemason apprentices.
The records of the company have been deposited with the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates. 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 Masons, 1550? - 1955. The records were compiled from around 1550, but they include a schedule of deeds 1463-1676. They also include registers of freedom admissions and apprentice bindings from 1663; and records relating to the Irish estates, 1609-1910.
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: L/MB/A Constitutional records; L/MB/B Court records; L/MB/C Membership records; L/MB/D Financial records; L/MB/E Trade records; L/MB/F Clerk's records; L/MB/G Charities and estates.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
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
The company's Grant of Arms of 1472/3 was presented to the British Library (BL Add Chart 19135) in 1871.
The Printed Books Section of Guildhall Library holds a number of historical works concerning the company, including a short history by Raymond Smith in the company's yearbook of 1960 and Edward Condor Jnr. Records of the Hole Crafte and Fellowship of Masons (1894).
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 UK Western Europe Europe England Worshipful Company of Masons City of London London Handicrafts Craft workers Workers Skilled workers Stonemasons People People by occupation Personnel Construction industry personnel Masons Organizations Associations Guilds Trade guilds Crafts Stonemasonry Freedom admissions Freedom of a city Rights and privileges Documents Information sources Administration of justice
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The records of the company have been deposited with the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates. 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 Masons, 1550? - 1955. The records were compiled from around 1550, but they include a schedule of deeds 1463-1676. They also include registers of freedom admissions and apprentice bindings from 1663; and records relating to the Irish estates, 1609-1910.
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: L/MB/A Constitutional records; L/MB/B Court records; L/MB/C Membership records; L/MB/D Financial records; L/MB/E Trade records; L/MB/F Clerk's records; L/MB/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 are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
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
The company's Grant of Arms of 1472/3 was presented to the British Library (BL Add Chart 19135) in 1871.
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