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London Metropolitan Archives

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: BRIDGE HOUSE TRUST COMMITTEE


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): COL/CC/BHT

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: BRIDGE HOUSE TRUST COMMITTEE

Date(s): 1995-2006

Level of description: sub-fonds

Extent: 0.3 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.

Bridge House Estates was originally funded by tolls on London Bridge as well as rents and leases of the buildings along the bridge. It soon acquired extensive property which made it financially self-sufficient. These funds are used to maintain the City bridges, while surplus monies are used to make charitable grants under the City Bridge Trust, established in 1995. Following approval from the Court of Common Council The Bridge House Trust Committee changed its name to the Bridge House Grants Committee at its meeting on 26 October 1995. Both names however have continued to be used by the Committee, the former name was used consistently from April 2003 until the committee changed its name to The City Bridge Trust Committee in 2007.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Minute books of the Bridge House Trust Committee (also called the Bridge House Grants Committee), Court of Common Council, 1995-2006. Please note that these records are closed until 2030.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

In sections according to catalogue.

Conditions governing access:

Not 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 Bridge House Estates see: CLA/008: City Lands Estates, CLA/020: Tower Bridge, CLA/022: London Bridge, CLA/061: Jacobs Family, COL/AC: Archives, COL/AD: Administration, COL/CC/BHC: Court of Common Council Bridge House Committee, COL/CC/BHT: Court of Common Council Bridge House Trust 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/CC/JTB: Court of Common Council Joint Bridge House Estates and Improvement Committee, COL/CC/JTS: Joint Bridge House and Special Committee, COL/CC/JTT: Joint Bridge House Estates and Thames Navigation and Port of London Committee, COL/CCS/CO: Comptroller and City Solicitor, COL/CHD/BH: Chamberlain's Department: Bridge House Estates, COL/CHD/IM: Chamberlain's Department: Improvements, COL/CHD/RN: Chamberlain's Department: Rents and Rentals, COL/CSD/HO: Community Services Department: Housing, COL/CT: Charters, COL/OF: Officers, COL/PL: Plans, COL/PLD/PL: Planning Department Plans, COL/SVD/PL: Surveyor's Department Plans, COL/TSD/PL: Technical Services Department Plans.

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
Charity | Social welfare
Grants | Financing | Finance

Personal names

Corporate names
Bridge House Estates | Corporation of London x City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee
Bridge House Trust Committee | Court of Common Council | Corporation of London x Bridge House Grants Committee

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