London Metropolitan Archives

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1000 Years of London's History in Documents, Photos, Maps and Films

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Search History

London Metropolitan Archives - Item Details

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FARRIERS

Date of Creation:

1400? - 2000

Reference Code:

CLC/L/FB

Scope and Content:
  • Records of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. The records have been compiled from the 15th century, but they include copies of documents dating from 1356. The archive includes freemen lists from 1709, registers of freedom admissions from 1755 and of apprentice bindings from 1619; as well as charter and memorandum books; Court minute books; financial accounts; inventories and papers relating to the charitable trust; records relating to the Desert Orchid Appeal

    ACCESS

    Some files contain personal information which is subject to restriction under Data Protection legislation. Court minutes and some administrative files under 30 years are subject to access by permission only of the depositor. To seek permission please contact LMA for further details.
Extent: 457 production units
Classification: LIVERY COMPANIES
Former Reference: MS 02890; MS 05522-MS 05534; MS 08035; MS 21105 - MS 21106; MS 21380 - MS 21385; MS 31899; MS 33745 - MS 33763
Site Location: Guildhall
Level of Description:
    Collection

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Administrative History:
  • The Company originates from a medieval guild of farriers, but did not receive a charter until 1673/4. Farriers were responsible for the shoeing of horses and also for the early practice of equine veterinary medicine. The Company may have had a Hall in Aldersgate Street, in the 17th century.
Creator: Worshipful Company of Farriers
Copyright: Depositor
Source of Acquisition:
  • The archive of the Farriers' Company has been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1949. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.
  • 1949/027
  • 1953/056
  • 1953/057
  • 1984/047
  • 1985/015
Access Restrictions: These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 2018 Not available for online ordering. Please see staff
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 code as follows:
CLC/L/FB/A Constitutional records,
CLC/L/FB/B Court records,
CLC/L/FB/C Membership records,
CLC/L/FB/D Financial records,
CLC/L/FB/E Trade records,
CLC/L/FB/F Clerk's records,
CLC/L/FB/G Charities and estates.
Publication Notes:

See "The farrier and his craft: the history of the Worshipful Company of Farriers" by Leslie B. Prince, 1908, Guildhall Library Closed Access SL 37:F: 246; LMA Library Pamphlet 35.31/(FAR).

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.

Language Notes: Nearly all in English, but some Latin.