Graphical version

London Metropolitan Archives

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GIRDLERS


IDENTITY STATEMENT

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

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GIRDLERS

Date(s): 1500? - 1981

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 65 production units

Name of creator(s): Worshipful Company of Girdlers

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Company received a charter from Edward III in 1327, although it may have existed as as fraternity for many years before this date. The Company received additional charters in 1449, 1567, 1640, 1685 and 1937. The Company is recorded hiring Brewers' Hall in 1422/3, but has occupied the site of the present hall in Basinghall Street since 1431. The hall was rebuilt between 1680-7, destroyed in 1940 and the present hall rebuilt in 1961. A girdler manufactured girdles (a belt worn round the waist to secure or confine the garments).

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, 1500? - 1981. The records were compiled from the 16th century, but they include deeds dating from 1326. The membership records include registers of freedom admissions and apprentice bindings from 1654; charters and ordinances; Court minute books; financial accounts; papers relating to charitable bequests and papers relating to property and estates.

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 and Latin.

System of arrangement:

To assist the user the catalogue has been arranged in sections each with an archival classification code as follows: A: Constitutional records; B: Court records; C: Membership records; D: Financial records; G: Charities and estates.

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.

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 with the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1949. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records were catalogued in 1949, 1983, 2004 and 2009 by members of Guildhall Library staff.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Publication note:

The Printed Books Section of Guildhall Library holds, T.C. Barker, The Girdlers' Company, a Second History (1957).

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
Almshouses | Residential buildings | Buildings | Architecture
Apprenticeship records | Documents | Information sources
Charitable bequests | Bequests | Property transfer | Property
Freedom admissions | Documents | Information sources
Freedom of a city | Rights and privileges | Administration of justice
Freemen | People by roles | People
Girdlers | Manufacturers | Industrial personnel | Personnel | People by occupation | People
Girdles | Clothing | Textiles
Trade guilds | Guilds | Associations | Organizations

Personal names

Corporate names
Worshipful Company of Girdlers

Places
City of London | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe