IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 CLC/284
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: CORPORATION OF LONDON: OFFICERS
Date(s): 1755-1800
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 5 production units.
Name of creator(s): Corporation of London
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Corporation of London also acts through its officers, some of whose offices originate in the medieval period. The earliest known holders of the office of Town Clerk (now the Chief Executive) and the Chamberlain (the chief financial officer), for example, both date from the 13th century although the offices themselves may date from the 12th century. Others, such as that of the Comptroller and City Solicitor (the head of the legal department), result from the amalgamation of different offices originating from medieval and Elizabethan times.
The City Marshal acts as the peacekeeper to the Lord Mayor of London, leads processions and represents the Lord Mayor at all Entries of Troops into the City.
The Swordbearer is a ceremonial role dating back to 1420; and is the most senior of the Lord Mayor's three personal staff officers. The Swordbearer supervises the protocol of ceremonial events, wearing a fur hat which was known as Cap of Maintenance and carrying the Lord Mayor's Sword of State which dates to 15th century.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records relating to officers of the Corporation of London, including City Marshal's ceremonial book, 1755-1800; forms of civic processions and posts allotted to City marshals and other officers in processions and other events, 1791 - 1798; instructions for the guidance of the Swordbearer, [1726-1742]; and abstract of duties of the City Officers, 1789.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited in the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, which merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: August to October 2010.