WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CORDWAINERS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 CLC/L/CJ
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CORDWAINERS
Date(s)	: 1395-1974
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 278 production units
Name of creator(s)	: Worshipful Company of Cordwainers

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

An organisation of cordwainers appears to have existed at an early date; the first ordinances were granted in 1272. However, the company's charters only date from 1439, with the grant of arms not until 1579. Cordwainers worked with leather (especially cordwain or cordovan leather) to make shoes, bottles and harnesses.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, 1395-1974. The collection includes charters, ordinances and grant of arms; title deeds and other property records; Court minute books; Committee minute books; register of freedom admissions; register of apprentice bindings; inventories; financial accounts and wine cellar stock books.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English, Latin and French.

System of arrangement:

To assist the user the catalogue has been arranged in sections each with an archival classification number as follows:
CLC/L/CJ/A Consitutional records,
CLC/L/CJ/B Court records,
CLC/L/CJ/C Membership records,
CLC/L/CJ/D Financial records,
CLC/L/CJ/E Trade records,
CLC/L/CJ/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/CJ/G Charities and estates

Conditions governing access:

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries. For further information please see LMA Research Guide "Consulting Archives at Guildhall Library", available at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright: Depositor.

Finding aids:

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

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

This collection has been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1952. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Please see Cordwainers: shoemakers of the City of London. A history of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers of the City of London by Clive Willcocks (2008). Guildhall Library reference L 37:C 796.

For further information relating to Livery Companies, particularly using the company records for family history, please see Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Livery Company Membership Guide" and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Leaflet Guides to Records: Searching for Members or those apprenticed to Members of City of London Livery Companies" (both available online).

For a general introduction to the history of the City of London Livery Companies please see entry in The London Encyclopaedia, ed Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert.

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:
Oct-09