Abstract
The Company of Ironmongers. Their Contribution to the Social Political and Economic Life of London between 1350 and 1580
The thesis examines how city companies emerged to defend the commercial interests of those providing for a growing city. Chapter 1 looks at iron processing and trade in Europe and the emerging role of London ironmongers, who, with other groups, were competing to provide the iron needed for building, transport, and more specialized uses. It explores why England became a net importer of iron, and how ironmongers developed a role as middlemen supplying iron to customers.
Chapter 2 examines how ironmongers began to regulate their apprentices and to control the quality of their sales. They also took on a variety of roles in the city and laid the foundations for the company’s development in the fifteenth century. Chapter 3 considers the governance of the company, based on the first surviving company records which date from 1455. This includes the role of its elected officials, together with the livery and the yeomanry, and the relations between them. Chapter 4 looks at how the Ironmongers acquired and managed a growing property portfolio, and the impact of the Reformation on this process.
The next three chapters change focus from the institution to individual ironmongers, based on wills and ecclesiastical and civic records. Chapter 5 considers their roles as parishioners with religious and charitable responsibilities as they alter with the Reformation. Chapter 6 examines their roles as the heads of often extensive family and neighbourhood networks, and as city officials. Chapter 7 considers the commercial role of the company and demonstrates that it is a mercantile rather than an artisan company whose members ranged from wealthy international traders to small shopkeepers. The competitive nature of London trade meant that ironmongers were forced to diversify into other areas of commercial activity and the extent to which the company was able to compete successfully with other major companies is explored.
The thesis examines how city companies emerged to defend the commercial interests of those providing for a growing city. Chapter 1 looks at iron processing and trade in Europe and the emerging role of London ironmongers, who, with other groups, were competing to provide the iron needed for building, transport, and more specialized uses. It explores why England became a net importer of iron, and how ironmongers developed a role as middlemen supplying iron to customers.
Chapter 2 examines how ironmongers began to regulate their apprentices and to control the quality of their sales. They also took on a variety of roles in the city and laid the foundations for the company’s development in the fifteenth century. Chapter 3 considers the governance of the company, based on the first surviving company records which date from 1455. This includes the role of its elected officials, together with the livery and the yeomanry, and the relations between them. Chapter 4 looks at how the Ironmongers acquired and managed a growing property portfolio, and the impact of the Reformation on this process.
The next three chapters change focus from the institution to individual ironmongers, based on wills and ecclesiastical and civic records. Chapter 5 considers their roles as parishioners with religious and charitable responsibilities as they alter with the Reformation. Chapter 6 examines their roles as the heads of often extensive family and neighbourhood networks, and as city officials. Chapter 7 considers the commercial role of the company and demonstrates that it is a mercantile rather than an artisan company whose members ranged from wealthy international traders to small shopkeepers. The competitive nature of London trade meant that ironmongers were forced to diversify into other areas of commercial activity and the extent to which the company was able to compete successfully with other major companies is explored.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 30 Nov 2024 |
