Graphical version

London Metropolitan Archives

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BAKERS OF LONDON


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0074 CLC/L/BA

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BAKERS OF LONDON

Date(s): 1491-1949

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 184 production units

Name of creator(s): Worshipful Company of Bakers

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

A fraternity of bakers has existed since the 12th century (first mentioned in 1155) and was first granted a charter in 1486. Its members included the bakers of bread, cakes and confectionery. For a brief period in the 17th century, the makers of brown bread, known as brown bakers, attained a separate corporate identity. They were again recognised as part of the Company under the terms of the charter of 1685. Until 1805 the Company had powers to punish bakers who did not meeting trading standards.

The Company had a Hall for a few years in Dowgate, before moving to a site in Harp Lane. The Hall in Harp Lane was destroyed in 1666 and again in 1940; on the last occasion it was rebuilt and reopened in 1963. The Bakers' Company almshouses were funded by contributions from the Court and livery. A site was purchased on the Hackney Road in 1828. The almshouses were demolished in 1931.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Worshipful Company of Bakers, 1491-1949. Records include copies and abstracts of the charters; copies and abstracts of ordinances; ordinance, oath and memorandum books; Court minute books; registers of freedom admissions; lists and registers of apprentice bindings; quarterage books; Masters and Wardens' accounts and other financial accounts; papers relating to assize of bread, baking on Sundays, and other affairs, comprising rough committee minutes, briefs, memoranda and correspondence; weekly wheat returns on the London Corn Exchange; Clerk's letter books; papers relating to property owned by the Company including the manor of Pellipar, Londonderry. Please note some records are available to view only on microfilm.

Also records of the Bakers' Company almshouses, 1828-1931, (8 production units). Records comprise: minutes, 1828-36 (Ms 05193); accounts, 1828-1931 (Ms 05194-4B); report of the Almshouses Committee, 1871 (Ms 07805); papers relating to the sale of the almshouses in Lyme Grove, Hackney, 1901-32 (Ms 35644); and correspondence concerning 19 St Bride's Street, 1904-15 (Ms 35645). Further references may be found in other Bakers' Company records such as minutes and accounts.

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.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

As the archive is large and complex, and to assist the user, the catalogue has been arranged in sections each with an archival classification code as follows:
CLC/L/BA/A Constitutional records,
CLC/L/BA/B Court records,
CLC/L/BA/C Membership records,
CLC/L/BA/D Financial records,
CLC/L/BA/E Trade records,
CLC/L/BA/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/BA/G Charities and estates.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

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.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The records of the Company 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. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Publication note:

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.

DESCRIPTION NOTES Rules or conventions: 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.

Date(s) of descriptions: Oct-09


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Apprenticeship records | Documents | Information sources
Assize of Bread and Ale | Assizes | Courts | Administration of justice
Bakeries | Food industry | Manufacturing industry | Industry
Bakers | Food industry personnel | Personnel | People by occupation | People
Bread | Food | Agricultural products
Freedom admissions | Documents | Information sources
Freedom of a city | Rights and privileges | Administration of justice
Freemen | People by roles | People
Trade guilds | Guilds | Associations | Organizations

Personal names

Corporate names
Worshipful Company of Bakers

Places
City of London | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Londonderry | Ireland | Western Europe | Europe
Shoreditch | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Hackney