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London Metropolitan Archives

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: PORT OF LONDON COMMITTEE


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): COL/CC/PNC

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: PORT OF LONDON COMMITTEE

Date(s): 1794-1857

Level of description: sub-fonds

Extent: 0.01 linear metres

Name of creator(s): Corporation of London

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The concept of the Court of Common Council grew from the ancient custom of the Folkmoot, when the assent of the citizens to important acts was obtained. This custom was continued by the Mayor who consulted the Commons several times during the 13th century. From 1376 the assembly began to meet regularly and was referred to as the Common Council. It was decided that the Council should be made up of persons elected from each Ward. By 1384 a permanent Common Council chosen by the citizens was established for all time. The Council assumed legislative functions and adopted financial powers, confirmed by Charters of 1377 and 1383. The Council has often used these powers to amend the civic constitution, regulate the election of Lord Mayor and other officials, and amend the functions of the City courts. The Council was judged so successful in the conduct of its duties that it was the only Corporation unreformed by Parliament following the Municipal Corporations Commission report of 1837, while the Corporation Inquiry Commission of 1854 suggested only minor reforms. The work of the Council is conducted by a number of committees, while the whole Council has the right to approve policy, confirm major decisions and sanction expenditure. The committees handle many aspects of the running of the City including land and estates, finance and valuation, open spaces, street improvement and town planning, public health, police, Port of London, civil defence, airports, libraries, markets, education, and law. The Town Clerk has held responsibility for recording the minutes of the Council and its committees since 1274.

The Port of London comprised a stretch of the River Thames from Teddington Lock in Surrey to the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, including all streams, channels, creeks, harbours and docks within these limits. The Port of London Committee was responsible for keeping the river clear of obstructions and maintaining and regulating locks, weirs, tow-paths and docks. In January 1830 the Port of London Committee was discontinued and its duties were transferred to the Thames Navigation Committee.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Port of London Committee, Court of Common Council, including minutes, 1855-1857; committee papers, 1798-1817; bills for work done on docks and canals, 1794-1802; various financial papers, 1797-1806 and standing orders, 1826-1829.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

In sections according to 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:

See also CLA/037 Thames, COL/CC/TNC Thames Navigation Committee, Port and City of London Health Committee (COL/CC/PHC), Port Health and Environmental Services Committee (COL/CC/PHE), Port of London Health Committee (COL/CC/PNC) and Port and City of London Health and Social Services Committee (COL/CC/PHS).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

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: February 2009


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Docks | Transport infrastructure
Locks | Waterways | Transport infrastructure
Maintenance | Engineering
River navigation | Inland waterways | Waterways | Transport infrastructure
Towpaths | Footpaths | Transport infrastructure
Weirs | Built works

Personal names

Corporate names
Port of London Committee | Court of Common Council | Corporation of London x Thames Navigation Committee

Places