IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): CLA/008
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: CITY LANDS ESTATES
Date(s): 1589-1975
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 8 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Corporation of London
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The City Lands Committee is the oldest standing committee of the Corporation of London. The City Lands formed an extensive estate and provided a major source of income for the City government. A Charter of 1444 formally granted to the City the ownership of the streets, ways, common soil and enclosures of the common soil. Finally the City Lands also included property purchased by the City or administered by the City in trust such as the Philpot, Carpenter and Reynwell estates.
Until the reign of Elizabeth I the City Lands were administered under the authority of the Court of Aldermen, although from the early-16th century the day to day leasing of the City Lands property was carried out by the Chamberlain until on 2 May 1559 the Court of Aldermen voted to resume this function. Thenceforth decisions over leasing were made by a body of senior aldermen called the Surveyors, assisted by the Chamberlain. The Surveyors ceased to meet after 23 December 1590. The successor body, the City Lands and Bridge House Committee, only met for the first time in May 1592. The most striking difference between the new committee and the Surveyors who had preceded it was that the committee included for the first time permanent membership of six Common Councilmen as well as four Alderman.
The City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee is still responsible for the management of the lands and buildings under the City of London's aegis.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of the City Lands Estates, including legal and financial papers, 1669-1758; contracts, 1779-1838; grant books, 1589-1923; leases and deeds, 1629-1842; papers relating to individual properties, and papers relating to the Conduit Mead estate; 1628-1988.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
In sections according to the catalogue.
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright: City of London.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Corporation of London Records Office.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
For Corporation of London records relating to City Lands Estates see: CLA/007: Bridge House Estates, COL/AC: Archives, COL/BR: Brokers, COL/CC/BHC: Court of Common Council Bridge House Committee, COL/CC/CLBH: Court of Common Council City Lands and Bridge House Estate Committee, COL/CC/CLC: Court of Common Council City Lands Committee, COL/CCS/CO: Comptroller and City Solicitor: Comptroller, COL/CCS/PL: Comptroller and City Solicitor: Plans, COL/CHD/CM: Chamberlain's Department: Chamber Accounts, COL/CHD/DM: Chamberlain's Department: Duties and Metage, COL/OF: Officers, COL/PL: Plans, COL/PLD/PL: Planning Department Plans, COL/RMD/CE: Remembrancer's Department: Ceremonial, COL/SJ: Subject Series: Subjects, COL/SP: Subject Series: Places, COL/SVD/PL: Surveyor's Department Plans, COL/TSD/PL: Technical Services Department Plans.
Publication note:
Neal R. Shipley, 'The City Lands Committee 1592-1642', Guildhall Studies in London History, vol. II No. 4.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Date(s) of descriptions: February 2009