City of London Library catalogue

The Library catalogue catalogue is in the process of being upgraded but, for technical reasons, some items in the collections of the City Business and Guildhall libraries cannot currently be viewed in the new version. They do however display in the earlier version of the catalogue and so links to both versions are provided here.

The catalogue lists most of the items held in the City of London's libraries. It shows where items can be found and whether they are available for loan. Former catalogue.

Before making a special journey, please contact the library concerned to confirm that what you want is available.

Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section - General Guide, Non Anglican Religious Bodies: "This section includes records of non-conformist and foreign protestant congregations and non-conformist secular organisations. No original records are held of Roman Catholic congregations or churches"

Full catalogue entries will be found in our online catalogue www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/librarycatalogue (use the “Former catalogue”). To find the entries, do a Classification search for the Manuscript number given on this web page Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section - General Guide, Non Anglican Religious Bodies

Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section - Sources for Biographical and Genealogical Research: "The Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library is the local record office for the City of London (the 'Square Mile'), although it does not hold the archives of the City of London Corporation itself which are separately administered. Its holdings date from the 11th century and include the archives of the Diocese of London, St Paul's Cathedral, the City wards and parishes, and around 80 of the City livery companies. It also holds family and estate records, and, in keeping with its location, considerable business and commercial archives, including those of the London Stock Exchange, the London Chamber of Commerce, Lloyd's of London and numerous merchant banks, insurance companies, stockbrokers, merchants and trading companies."

The main genealogical sources are:

* registers of baptisms, marriages and burials in over 100 parishes within the City of London and in St Leonard Shoreditch; records of burials at Bunhill Fields burial ground and at the City of London cemetery, Little Ilford;

* registers of some Anglican churches overseas (mainly 19th-20th centuries; a few earlier registers); also the "International Memoranda" of baptisms, marriages and burials overseas (19th and early 20th century);

* rate books for City wards and parishes (mainly 1692-1907; some earlier records); see also Land Tax Assessments;

* marriage licence records for the Diocese of London (1597-20th century), the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral (1670-1841) and the Royal Peculiar of St Katharine by the Tower (1686-1802 with gaps);

* probate records for the Archdeaconry Court of London (1393-1807), the Commissary Court of London (1374-1857) and the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral (1535-1837);

* apprenticeship and membership records of most of the City livery companies (mainly 17th- 19th centuries; some earlier and later records);

* ordination and other records of clergy in the Diocese of London (14th-20th centuries);

* registers of children attending Christ's Hospital (1563-1911) and some other schools in or connected with the City;

* Lloyd's "Captains Registers" (1869-1948) relating to the careers of master mariners;

* registers of pilots licensed by Trinity House (1808-1929) and other Trinity House records.