Guildhall Library
Encyclopedia
The Guildhall Library is administered by the Corporation of London, the government of the City of London
, which is the historical heart of London
, England
. It was founded in the 1420s under the terms of the will of Lord Mayor Dick Whittington
. It was originally housed in the Old Library at the Guildhall
, and moved to modern premises elsewhere in the Guildhall complex in the 1970s.
The library is a public reference library and specialises in subjects relevant to London. The collection has its greatest depth on topics specifically concerned with the City
, but also contains a great deal of material on the other parts of metropolitan London. It is divided into three main sections: printed books; manuscripts; and prints, maps and drawings. The material dates from the 11th century onwards.
was elected librarian of the Guildhall Library, which had been recently re-established by the Corporation of London, in 1828. He prepared a second edition of the catalogue in 1840, and retired in 1845.
David Pearson
has been Director of Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London since 2009.
There are specialist book collections on the following subjects:
The local history collections are not restricted to London but cover the whole of the British Isles. In addition to complete sets of the Victoria County History
of England volumes and Nikolaus Pevsner
's Buildings of England, the library holds a collection of county, town and village histories, and also holds journals and other publications of many local history and archaeological societies.
Manuscripts
The manuscripts include the archives of:
However the archives of the City of London itself are administered separately by the Corporation of London Records Office.
Other materials
The print room is a prime source of historical pictures and maps of Greater London, with very diverse collections of prints, drawings, photographs, press cuttings, maps, theatre bills, and ephemera. A large amount of material has been placed online.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, which is the historical heart of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was founded in the 1420s under the terms of the will of Lord Mayor Dick Whittington
Richard Whittington
Sir Richard Whittington was a medieval merchant and politician, and the real-life inspiration for the pantomime character Dick Whittington. Sir Richard Whittington was four times Lord Mayor of London, a Member of Parliament and a sheriff of London...
. It was originally housed in the Old Library at the Guildhall
Guildhall, London
The Guildhall is a building in the City of London, off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. It has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation...
, and moved to modern premises elsewhere in the Guildhall complex in the 1970s.
The library is a public reference library and specialises in subjects relevant to London. The collection has its greatest depth on topics specifically concerned with the City
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, but also contains a great deal of material on the other parts of metropolitan London. It is divided into three main sections: printed books; manuscripts; and prints, maps and drawings. The material dates from the 11th century onwards.
Librarians
William HerbertWilliam Herbert (antiquarian)
William Herbert was an English librarian and antiquary.-Life:In 1828 he was elected librarian of the Guildhall Library, which had been recently re-established by the Corporation of London. He prepared a second edition of the catalogue in 1840, and retired in 1845...
was elected librarian of the Guildhall Library, which had been recently re-established by the Corporation of London, in 1828. He prepared a second edition of the catalogue in 1840, and retired in 1845.
David Pearson
David Pearson (librarian)
David Pearson is Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries at the City of London Corporation . He was previously Director of the University of London Research Library Services , Librarian of the Wellcome Trust , Head of Special Collections at the National Art Library and a curator in the...
has been Director of Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London since 2009.
Holdings
BooksThere are specialist book collections on the following subjects:
- London and its history
- Local history
- Family history
- English law
- Parliamentary material
- Wine and food
- Clocks and clockmakers (incorporating also the libraries of the Worshipful Company of ClockmakersWorshipful Company of ClockmakersThe Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Clockmakers were formed by a Royal Charter in 1631. Originally, no person was allowed to sell clocks unless they were a member of the Company. However, such requirements have since been relaxed and later...
and of the Antiquarian Horological SocietyAntiquarian Horological SocietyThe Antiquarian Horological Society, abbreviated as AHS, is the British organization of scholars and enthusiasts of horology.The association was founded in 1953 and unites collectors, scholars and museum professionals interested in the historical aspects of horology – the study of the art,...
) - Business history
- Marine history
- Several smaller collections
The local history collections are not restricted to London but cover the whole of the British Isles. In addition to complete sets of the Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
of England volumes and Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
's Buildings of England, the library holds a collection of county, town and village histories, and also holds journals and other publications of many local history and archaeological societies.
Manuscripts
- The Diocese of LondonDiocese of LondonThe Anglican Diocese of London forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.Historically the diocese covered a large area north of the Thames and bordered the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln to the north and west. The present diocese covers and 17 London boroughs, covering most of Greater...
- St Paul's CathedralSt Paul's CathedralSt Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
- the City wards and parishes
- around 80 of the City livery companies
However the archives of the City of London itself are administered separately by the Corporation of London Records Office.
Other materials
The print room is a prime source of historical pictures and maps of Greater London, with very diverse collections of prints, drawings, photographs, press cuttings, maps, theatre bills, and ephemera. A large amount of material has been placed online.