BROKERS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: COL/BR
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: BROKERS
Date(s)	: 1674-1906
Level of description	: subfonds View parent record
Extent	: 19 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Corporation of London

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

A broker is a retailer of commodities or someone who acts as a middleman to transact business or negotiate bargains between different merchants or individuals. There are several types of broker including bill or exchange brokers, stockbrokers, ship brokers, insurance brokers, pawnbrokers. Those brokers who negotiate sales of produce between different merchants usually confine themselves to some one department or line of business such as cotton, tea, etc (Oxford English Dictionary).

Between 1285 and 1886 the Corporation of London had the power to license all brokers in almost every commodity operating in the City of London. This power was granted and confirmed by several Royal Charters and Acts of Parliament. Although the Corporation was keen to maintain its powers over brokers, many evaded being licensed - half the brokers on the Stock Exchange were found to be unlicensed in 1837. The powers of the Corporation were restricted by statute in 1870 and entirely abolished in 1884 by the London Brokers' Relief Act.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records relating to Brokers, 1674-1906, including accounts of brokers' rents, 1788-1882; ledger of brokers' rents, 1746-1886; accounts of rent received, 1845-1847; brokers' rents cash book, 1847-1889; brokers' rentals, 1858-1885; brokers' bonds, 1697-1870; records of various Committees of the Court of Aldermen, which dealt with the admission and regulation of brokers, 1692 and 1764-1886; Act of Common Council for regulating Brokers upon the Royal Exchange, 1674; petitions of individuals to be admitted as brokers, submitted to the Court of Aldermen, 1708; registers of admission and discharge, 1708-1886; receipt books for medals certificates, 1840-1886; notices of discharge, 1863-1886; applications to the Court of Aldermen for admission as brokers, 1868-1871 brokers' medals, 1803 and 1837-1861; various lists of brokers, 1708-1882; Parliamentary Bills and orders, rules and regulations of the Court of Aldermen regarding brokers and article Brokers' Medals and Stockbrokers' Tokens by J.B. Caldecott, 1906.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

In sections as follows: Accounts, Bonds, Committtee Papers, Petitions, Registers, Miscellaneous, Admissions and Discharges, Lists and Rules.

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:

Information regarding brokers licensed before 1697 can be found in the Letter Books for 1285-1495 (COL/AD) and in the Repertories (proceedings of the Court of Aldermen) for 1495-1697 (COL/CA).

Publication note:

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