MANSION HOUSE

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 CLC/274
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: MANSION HOUSE
Date(s)	: 1785-1939
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 44 production units.
Name of creator(s)	: The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London Mansion House | Corporation of London

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The first recorded Mayor of London was Henry Fitz-Ailwyn in 1189. Since then, some 700 men and one woman have over the centuries held the position of chief officer of the City of London. The most famous of them all is Dick Whittington, who held office three times, in 1397, 1406 and 1419.

The Lord Mayor has throughout the centuries played a vital role in the life of the City of London and continues to do so today. In the City, the Lord Mayor ranks immediately after the sovereign and acts as the capital's host in Guildhall and Mansion House, his official residence. On behalf of the City and the nation he carries out numerous engagements at home and abroad.

The right of citizens to elect their own Mayor dates from the Charter granted by King John to the City in 1215. The election of Lord Mayor is held at the end of September each year in Guildhall. The assembly, known as Common Hall, consists of all liverymen of at least one year's standing together with certain high officers of the City. All aldermen who have served the office of sheriff and who have not already been Lord Mayor are eligible.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

This collection contains records which relate to the time in office of various Lord Mayors. They comprise:
diaries 1785, 1836-1838, 1847-1848, 1893-1898, 1902-1903, 1905-1908, 1913-14, 1926-7;
invitation books 1861-1862, 1886-1887, 1895-6, 1898-1899, 1905-1908, 1913-1914, 1922-1923, 1926-7;
visitors books 1856-7, 1859-1860, 1862-1866, 1868-1870, 1878-1879, 1882-3, 1886-7, 1895-1896, 1905-1906, 1907-1908, 1913-1914, 1926-1927;
autograph books 1926-7;
lists of shrieval duties 1938-9;
swordbearer's diary 1834-8.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Records arranged according to MS numbers assigned as part of Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section cataloguing.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

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:

For other papers relating to the Lord Mayor and Mansion House see COL/MH/LM.

Publication note:

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:
August to October 2010.