MAYOR'S COURT, CITY OF LONDON

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: CLA/024
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: MAYOR'S COURT, CITY OF LONDON
Date(s)	: 1290-1994
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 70.6 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Corporation of London

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Mayor's Court developed as an adjunct to the Court of Husting (see CLA/023) as a result of business overflowing from that court. The first court roll dates to 1298 although proceedings were probably taking place before this, from around 1280. The Mayor's Court's main jurisdiction was to enforce the customs of London, including mercantile actions. The court could sit on any day.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Mayor's Court, City of London, 1290-1994, including court rolls, original bills, court books, actions, warrants and bails, interrogatories and answers, depositions, court proceedings and court administration papers.

Also papers relating to cases undertaken by James Gibson, attorney of the Mayor's Court, 1691-1705, mainly briefs, correspondence and papers relating to specific suits. Gibson's cases deal with a range of subjects, including the conduct of international and local trade (especially credit), industry and working practices, the value of particular artisan processes and seamen's wages. The papers also reveal the relations between client and attorney, the conduct of cases, and fees charged.

Access & 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

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Corporation of London Records Office.

Allied Materials

Related material:

For Corporation of London records relating to courts see: CLA/004: Mansion House Justice Room, CLA/005: Guildhall Justice Room, CLA/023 Court of Husting, City of London, CLA/024: Mayor's Court, City of London, CLA/025: Sheriff's Court, City of London, CLA/026: City of London Court, CLA/027: Mayor's and City of London Court, CLA/038: Court of Requests, City of London, CLA/039: Courts of Judicature, City of London, CLA/040: Courts of Law, CLA/041: City of London Coroners Court, CLA/042: Southwark Crown Court, CLA/047: City of London Sessions, COL/CA/MGA: Court of Aldermen Magistracy Committee, COL/CC/AJC: Court of Common Council Administration of Justice Committee, COL/CC/CRC: Court of Common Council Court of Requests Committee, COL/CC/CRE: Court of Common Council Central Criminal Court (Extension) Committee, COL/CC/CRN: Court of Common Council Central Criminal Court Newson Smith Committee, COL/CC/LPC: Court of Common Council Law, [Parliamentary] and City Courts Committee, COL/CC/SDC: Court of Common Council Secondaries and Sheriffs' Courts Committee, COL/CHD/IC: Chamberlain's Department: Institutions and Courts and COL/PL for plans of courts.

Publication note:

For more information about the development and running of the court, see A H Thomas (ed) Calendar of Early Mayor's Court Rolls preserved among the archives of the Corporation of the City of London at the Guildhall, 1298-1307, (Cambridge University Press, 1924).

Description Notes

Archivist's 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