HomeThe CompanyLondon Assay OfficeExhibitions and EventsSupport for the Craft
EducationCharitiesThe CollectionsThe LibraryThe Hall & BookingsContact
The Goldsmiths' Company
 

> Home : Library : The Company's Archives

The Company's Archives


Begun in 1334 the Wardens' Accounts and Court Minutes, apart from one volume (1579-1592), form a fascinating narrative of the Company's activities to the present day.

The first page of the first apprenticeship book, 1578, known as the 'dormonde'
The first page of the first apprenticeship book, 1578, known as the 'dormonde'
Supported by apprenticeship books from 1578 and freedom books from 1694 they provide vital information about the Company's membership, its organisation and the changing social, economic and political scene over the centuries.


Financial records began in some depth with cash books from 1689 and standing committee books (to approve the payment of bills) from 1712.

Estate matters are recorded, apart from the Wardens' Accounts and Court Minutes, in 17th century lease books and related material. There are maps and plans of Company property from the 17th century onwards including two 17th century plans of the Company's Irish estate in Londonderry and property in the City of London and Acton in west London.
Survey of the New Street area north of Fleet Street, 1692, by John Ward
Survey of the New Street area north of Fleet Street, 1692, by John Ward

The Library is responsible for the records of Assay Office London which include registers of marks from 1697 onwards and mark plates of the Assay Office (from 1773) and makers' mark plates (from c.1682).


Detail of Assay Office mark plate of 1790-1800
Detail of Assay Office mark plate of 1790-1800
The maker's mark of John Sutton, Touchwarden, from the first largeworkers' book
The maker's mark of John Sutton, Touchwarden, from the first largeworkers' book


The records of early Trials of the Pyx, which relates to the testing of the coin of the realm produced by the Royal Mint and which continues annually, are recorded in separate minute books from 1604 to 1870.

A short listing of the Goldsmiths' Company's archives are included on
AIM25's website which can be accessed here.
Silver First Assayer's Diet box with various documents relating to the Trial of the Diet
Silver First Assayer's Diet box with various documents relating to the Trial of the Diet, the annual check of assaying at Assay Office London


click to return to the top of the page
 
Library Services
Printed Books
Periodicals and Journals
Photographs and Slides
Films and VHS Tapes
The Twining Collection
Company Archives
Publications
Enquiries

Technology Portal
Quick
Search: 		 
Online database of suppliers, training courses and related services for the jewellery industry
visit the portal

Archive Update
a
a a a

Walkbook for Warning Carriers: Judy Jowett’s monograph on the 1744 walkbook for warning carriers is to published by the Silver Society in the autumn of 2005. For further details go to www.thesilversociety.org
keline
a

www.whoswhoingoldandsilver.com
Browse through the work of over 220 of the UK's leading designer craftsmen or search for a specific piece of jewellery or silver.
visit the site

Visit These Sites
A short listing of the Goldsmiths' Company's archives are included on AIM25's website.
www.aim25.ac.uk
 
Copyrightsitemap