WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF PEWTERERS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 CLC/L/PE
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 PEWTERERS
Date(s)	: 1307-1987
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 363 production units
Name of creator(s)	: Worshipful Company of Pewterers

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

A guild of pewterers [makers of pewter utensils], first mentioned in 1348, was granted a charter by Edward IV in 1473/4. The first hall was built in Lime Street in 1496. It was destroyed in the Great Fire and a new hall was built on the same site. This hall was demolished in 1932. The present hall is in Oat Lane.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers. The main administrative records of the Company date from 1451, however, the records also include a copy of the ordinances of 1348, and deeds from 1307. Records include charters; ordinances; memoranda books; Court minute books; Committee reports; livery lists; annual lists of members of the Company; registers of freedom admissions; registers of apprentices; search books, giving details of defective pewterware found at establishments and fairs visited by Company representative; papers concerning the assay of tin; legal case papers; papers relating to properties and papers relating to charitable bequests.

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 and Latin.

System of arrangement:

As the archive is large and complex, and 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; 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:

Deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1951. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.

Allied Materials

Related material:

The Manuscripts Section holds a photocopy of the 1455 ordinances (the original is at Pewterers' Hall).

Publication note:

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