Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1449-2005 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
56 production units
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Fraternity of St Nicholas was incorporated by letters patent in 1233 and granted a charter under its later designation of Parish Clerks' Company in 1635/6. A bede roll of the fraternity, 1448/9-1521, survives today. Current membership is restricted to parish clerks of 150 qualifying parishes in and around the City.
From 1625, the Company was responsible for compiling and disseminating the bills of mortality, which record deaths within the bounds of the City. A decree of the Court of Star Chamber allowed the Company to maintain a printing press for this purpose.
The Company was initially associated with the Bishopsgate area, but later acquired a Hall in Wood Street, which was destroyed in the Great Fire. The Hall was rebuilt in Silver Street, housing the Company until its destruction by enemy action in 1940.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/L/PB 1449-2005 Collection 56 production units Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks
The Fraternity of St Nicholas was incorporated by letters patent in 1233 and granted a charter under its later designation of Parish Clerks' Company in 1635/6. A bede roll of the fraternity, 1448/9-1521, survives today. Current membership is restricted to parish clerks of 150 qualifying parishes in and around the City.
From 1625, the Company was responsible for compiling and disseminating the bills of mortality, which record deaths within the bounds of the City. A decree of the Court of Star Chamber allowed the Company to maintain a printing press for this purpose.
The Company was initially associated with the Bishopsgate area, but later acquired a Hall in Wood Street, which was destroyed in the Great Fire. The Hall was rebuilt in Silver Street, housing the Company until its destruction by enemy action in 1940.
Deposited by the Company in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.
Records of the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks. The 1940 bombing destroyed much of the archive. However, there is a biographical index of Company members from 1400 (Ms 3704) and extracts from court minutes, 1610-1926 (Ms 3706), both compiled by William MacMurray from Company records before 1940. Also weekly reports of baptisms and burials in City parishes; papers relating to property and scrapbooks of collectanea for the history of the Company.
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: CLC/L/PB/A Constitutional records; CLC/L/PB/B Court records; CLC/L/PB/C Membership records; CLC/L/PB/E Trade records; CLC/L/PB/F Clerk's records; CLC/L/PB/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 and Latin.
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 Local government personnel Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe Parish clerks Organizations Associations Guilds Trade guilds People People by occupation Personnel Clerical personnel
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by the Company in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks. The 1940 bombing destroyed much of the archive. However, there is a biographical index of Company members from 1400 (Ms 3704) and extracts from court minutes, 1610-1926 (Ms 3706), both compiled by William MacMurray from Company records before 1940. Also weekly reports of baptisms and burials in City parishes; papers relating to property and scrapbooks of collectanea for the history of the Company.
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: CLC/L/PB/A Constitutional records; CLC/L/PB/B Court records; CLC/L/PB/C Membership records; CLC/L/PB/E Trade records; CLC/L/PB/F Clerk's records; CLC/L/PB/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 and Latin.
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
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