WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF WAX CHANDLERS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 CLC/L/WB
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 WAX CHANDLERS
Date(s)	: [1400?] - 1990
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 94 production units
Name of creator(s)	: Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

There is evidence of a body of Wax Chandlers in 1330 when it collected money as a gift for the king. In 1348 four men were appointed to investigate the quality of wares, and in 1353 ordinances were entered into the Corporation's Letter Book G (held with the City of London Corporation's own records; also transcribed in Ms 9495). Their first charter was granted in 1484 and the grant of arms was made in 1485 and confirmed with supporters in 1530. The Company's operative charter was granted by Charles II in 1663 and, although it was lost during 'quo warranto' proceedings, a contemporary transcript survives in Ms 9498.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers, compiled from around 1400, but including deeds dating from ca. 1200, and copies of the ordinances of 1359 and 1371. They also include registers of freedom admissions and apprentice bindings from 1596; charters; Court and Committee minute books; account books; papers relating to charity and charitable bequests; and records relating to property owned by the Company including estates in Ireland.

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:

As the archive is large and complex, and to assist the user, the catalogue has been arranged in sections each with an archival classification number as follows:
A Constitutional records
B Court records
C Membership records
D Financial records
E Trade records
F Clerk's records
G Charities and estates.

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.

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:

The Company's records have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1951. 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:

The Printed Books Section of Guildhall Library holds histories of the Company, by Charles G Todd (1970) and by John Dummelow (1973).

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