SOCIETY OF FINSBURY ARCHERS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 CLC/105
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: SOCIETY OF FINSBURY ARCHERS
Date(s)	: 1653-1761
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 3 production units.
Name of creator(s)	: Society of Finsbury Archers

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Society of Finsbury Archers were founded in 1652 by members of the Honorable Artillery Company who were all keen archers and wanted to revive this declining skill. Finsbury Fields, north of Moorgate, had long been used for archery practice thanks to its famous 'Marks', targets (as many as 194) set up throughout the fields for archers to shoot at. As well as practising in the Fields, the Society of Finsbury Archers also held 3 tournaments every year, known as the Easter Targets, Whitsun Targets and Yarly or Elevenscore Targets. The Society was dissolved in 1737 due to the decline of the practice of archery and the loss of the Fields, which were increasingly built up, and the Marks lost.

Source of information: http://www.bowyers.com/longbow/williamWood.html (accessed July 2010).

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Rule books of the Society of Finsbury Archers, with lists of stewards and archers.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

In chronological order.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to these records rests with the 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 Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, which merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Some material relating to the Society of Finsbury Archers is held in the British Library (Add Mss 28801, 29792).

Publication note:

For further information see G. A. Raikes, The History of the Honourable Artillery Company (London, 1878), pp. 154-155.

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:
June to August 2010.