Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1634-2007 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
52 production units
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
There are references to a "Mystery" of Upholders [upholsterers] from at least 1361, but the earliest surviving records of the Company date from the 17th century. The Company Hall was based at Lambeth Hill but was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and not rebuilt.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/L/UA 1634-2007 Collection 52 production units Worshipful Company of Upholders
There are references to a "Mystery" of Upholders [upholsterers] from at least 1361, but the earliest surviving records of the Company date from the 17th century. The Company Hall was based at Lambeth Hill but was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and not rebuilt.
Many of the Company archives are believed to have been destroyed during World War II. The surviving archives were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1952, 1993, 1995 and after. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.
Records of the Worshipful Company of Upholders, including a transcript of the 1626 charter, and registers of freedom admissions 1698-1976 and of apprentice bindings 1704-72. Also Court minute books; financial accounts and papers relating to property.
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 representing sub-groups 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.
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 Printed Books Section holds the following histories of the Company: The Worshipful Company of Upholders: financial history 1678-1934 (published by the Company in 1934, reprinted 1999); and J. F. Houston, Featherbedds and Flock Bedds: the early history of the Worshipful Company of Upholders of the City of London (Sandy, 2006).
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 Worshipful Company of Upholders City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe Associations Guilds Trade guilds People People by occupation Personnel Textile industry personnel Information sources Documents Apprenticeship records Textiles Upholstery Upholsterers Freedom admissions Freedom of a city Rights and privileges Administration of justice
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Many of the Company archives are believed to have been destroyed during World War II. The surviving archives were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1952, 1993, 1995 and after. 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 Upholders, including a transcript of the 1626 charter, and registers of freedom admissions 1698-1976 and of apprentice bindings 1704-72. Also Court minute books; financial accounts and papers relating to property.
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 representing sub-groups 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
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
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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