Collection GB 0074 CLC/L/SH - WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF SPECTACLE MAKERS

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/L/SH

Title

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF SPECTACLE MAKERS

Date(s)

  • 1629-1997 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

44 production units

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Spectacle Makers' Company received their first charter in 1629. In the 18th century, they extended their field of activity and became involved with innovations such as telescopes and microscopes. The Company had a Hall which was destroyed in the Great Fire and currently occupy buildings on the site of Apothecaries' Hall.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/L/SH 1629-1997 Collection 44 production units Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers

The Spectacle Makers' Company received their first charter in 1629. In the 18th century, they extended their field of activity and became involved with innovations such as telescopes and microscopes. The Company had a Hall which was destroyed in the Great Fire and currently occupy buildings on the site of Apothecaries' Hall.

The records have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1948. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.

Records of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, including registers of freedom admissions 1699-1873; apprentice bindings 1694-1860; charters; ordinances; grant of arms; Court minute books; financial accounts and rent ledger.

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.

The records have been arranged as follows:
A Constitutional records
B Court records
C Membership records
D Financial records
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

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 Organizations Freemen People by roles People Optical instruments Telescopes Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe Associations Guilds Trade guilds Laboratory equipment Microscopes Information sources Documents Apprenticeship records Equipment Scientific equipment Medical equipment Medical technology Sensory aids Glasses Freedom admissions Freedom of a city Rights and privileges Administration of justice

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The records have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1948. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, including registers of freedom admissions 1699-1873; apprentice bindings 1694-1860; charters; ordinances; grant of arms; Court minute books; financial accounts and rent ledger.

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

The records have been arranged as follows:
A Constitutional records
B Court records
C Membership records
D Financial records
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

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