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London Metropolitan Archives

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: GRESHAM COMMITTEE (CITY SIDE)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): COL/CC/GRC

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: GRESHAM COMMITTEE (CITY SIDE)

Date(s): 1922-2001

Level of description: sub-fonds

Extent: 1.6 linear metres

Name of creator(s): Depositor

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.

Under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham certain property, including the Royal Exchange, was left jointly to the Corporation and the Mercers' Company upon various trusts, including the payment of lecturers at Gresham College and the maintenance of almshouses. The trust was administered by the Joint Grand Gresham Committee with representatives from both the Mercers' and the City. However, it was necessary to form certain smaller committees within the Corporation, including the Gresham Committee (City Side) which met to select representatives to go forward to the Joint Grand Gresham Committee.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Gresham Committee (City Side), Court of Common Council, including minutes, 1939-1956 and 1986-2001; committee papers, 1922-1961 and letters, 1958-1998. Please note that the letters are closed until 2029.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

In sections according to catalogue.

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.

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/062: Gresham College and Royal Exchange and COL/CC/GRJ: Joint Gresham Committee.

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
Administrative history | Administration | Organisation and management
Colleges (UK) | Educational institutions
Further education institutions

Personal names

Corporate names
Gresham College | Corporation of London
Gresham Committee (City Side) | Court of Common Council | Corporation of London
Mercers Company
The Royal Exchange | Corporation of London

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