WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF POULTERS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 CLC/L/PI
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 POULTERS
Date(s)	: 1571? - 1979
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 63 production units
Name of creator(s)	: Worshipful Company of Poulters

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Company has been in existence from at least the 13th century, receiving charters in 1504, 1665, 1685, 1688 (two) and 1692. The Company also received a grant of arms in 1634. It was responsible for regulation of the trade in rabbits, pigeons, game, poultry and swans.

The Company appears to have used a tenement in Fenchurch Street as a hall from 1610, the premises being sub-let by the Company from 1630/1. The Company subsequently leased a property on the west side of Butcher Hall Lane. This hall was destroyed in the Great Fire. Since then the Company has held meetings at other company halls in the City and various coffee houses. In the period 1767-1951 the Company held meetings at Guildhall.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Worshipful Company of Poulters. The records were compiled from the late 16th century to 1979 (they include a schedule of title deeds 1547-98, compiled ca. 1615). They include registers of freedom admissions; apprentice bindings from 1620; charters; ordinances; Court minute books; quarterage books; financial accounts; records relating to charitable bequests; and deeds for property.

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

System of arrangement:

To assist the user the catalogue has been arranged in sections as follows:
A Constitutional records
B Court records
C Membership records
D Financial 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 records have been deposited with the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1936. 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 P.E. Jones', The Worshipful company of Poulters of the City of London (3rd edn. 1981).

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