Merchant Taylors' Company of York Archive

Royal charter of incorporation, 1662, with copies and related notes, and grant of fee farm rent due in respect of the charter, 1830; grant of arms, 1963; ordinances, 1564-1663; court minute books and associated papers, 1641-1894, 1931-1997, including an account of all things about the Taylors Hall, 1649, and rental of lands belonging to the company, 1671; draft minute books, 1817-1934, and extracts from the minute books, 1904; Minutes of the fabric committee 1990 - 95; Notes and invoices from fabric committee; Minutes of clerks' meetings 1989 - 97; Minutes of the Court of Assistants 2004 - 07; legal advice, 1665-18th century; papers relating to the Charity Commission, 1874-1948; letter book, 1900-1930, and correspondence, 1935-1974; newsletters, 1992-2008; financial records, including accounts, 1665-1689; 1712-1996; brogue (fines) book, 1707-1714, 1739-1749, 1754-1760; bank records, 1978-1997; tax records, 1799, 1935-1945; and stocks and shares, 1934-1977; membership records, including oaths of the company officers, 16th century-20th century; abled masters’ books and related papers, 1559/60-1931; certificates of admission to freedom of company, 1723-1957; lists of members, 1932-1934; apprenticeship registers, 1606-1631, 1751-1862; and indentures, 1814, 1849; handbooks, 1994-2011; historical notes and transcripts, including papers concerning 600th anniversary, 1808-c.1984; papers and photographs relating to special events, including dinners, excursions, and charter day court and services, 1892-2011; plans and photographs, 19th century-20th century; untitled VHS videotape, n.d.
Estate records, including charters and bonds, c.1316-1462; deeds and leases, 1586-1996, including deeds relating to the almshouse, 1754, 1768, and schedules of deeds of real and personal property belonging to the company, 19th century; tenancy agreements, 1829-1976; papers relating to building work, 1861-1961; Quinquennial inspection records 1989 and 1992; Archaeological reports 1991, 1994; Correspondence, notes and plans re. new reception wing 1991 - 94; Correspondence re. forecourt parking 1998; Proposed designs for Royal Coat of Arms and stained glass window 1963 and 2007; Bound documents relating to the Henry Gyles window; Correspondence, plans and notes re. the millennium portrait, millennium paten and chalice, and master's badge 2000.
Informational pamphlet about the company by R.B. Dobson; Correspondence and draft press release of 'The Merchant Taylors of York' 2005 - 06
Records of other York guilds, including ordinances of the Company of Weavers, 1578-1606; ordinances of the Company of Embroiderers, Vestment Makers, Cutters and Drawers, 1591; accounts and quarterly minutes of the Company of Innholders, 1633-1778; register of the Company of Bakers, 1724-1835; Invitations and menus from a variety of guilds.

The Merchant Taylors’ Company of York can trace its origins to at least 1387 when the ordinances of a guild of tailors were recorded in the city’s memorandum book.
Initially the guild was associated with the religious and charitable confraternity of St John the Baptist, being described as the ‘guild of tailors of Blessed John’ in a will of 1386.
By the beginning of the fifteenth century work had begun on a hall for the fraternity in Aldwark, which was completed by 1415. In that year the city authorities leased land adjoining the new hall to a combined group of tailors and members of the fraternity. An adjoining ‘maisondieu,’ or almshouse, run by the fraternity, was present from at least 1446.
In 1453 the Fraternity of St John the Baptist was granted a license of perpetual incorporation by King Henry VI. The license had been requested by fifteen York tailors and has been viewed as implicitly fusing the fraternity of St John and the mystery of tailors in York into a single legal entity.
Under the terms of the license, the brothers and sisters of the fraternity could elect a master and four wardens at the feast of St John the Baptist every year, could have their own common seal, and could hold lands and tenements for the purpose of maintaining their own chaplain.
The Hall of St John subsequently became the administrative centre of the clothing trade in the city. When the fraternity was abolished at the Reformation, the master tailors took ownership of the hall and its property in their own right. From 1545 it began to be referred to officially as the Merchant Taylors’ Hall.
In 1550-1551, the guild amalgamated with the city’s guild of drapers to form the Company of Tailors and Drapers of York. New ordinances were drawn up, introducing the offices of clerk and beadle and setting out fines for guild officers who refused to serve when elected. By 1585 another associated trade, the hosiers, began to appear in guild records.
Following the plague epidemic of 1604-5, the company passed additional ordinances designed to tighten control over tailoring within the city and to prevent ‘foreign’ or non-York craftsmen from working there. The company’s beadle and searchers were given the power to search houses and those found to be working without permission were to be fined by the city authorities.
In 1662 King Charles II granted the company their own royal charter of incorporation as ‘The Company of Merchant Taylors in the City of York.’ The charter confirmed their legal status and authority to regulate the trades of tailor and draper in the city and within a two mile radius of it.
In the eighteenth century the philanthropic work of the company increased. Court minute books record payments to the inmates of the maisondieu and to other needy brethren and their families. Between 1729 and 1730 they also raised funds to demolish and rebuild the almshouse and endowed it with rentals from properties in Micklegate and Walmgate.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century the company’s traditional control over trade in the city was in decline. Following an unsuccessful court case in 1818 they were also obliged to end the practice of requiring tailors and drapers to become freemen of the company, leaving them a voluntary organisation with few enforceable legal powers. In 1835 the Municipal Corporations Act formally removed all guild restrictions on industrial activity.
As a result, in 1879 the decision was taken to extend membership to a limited number from outside the guild’s traditional trades and to further focus activity on charitable works. As well as supporting needy company members and their own almshouse, the company also gave to local educational, medical and ecclesiastical causes.
Today the Company of Merchant Taylors are one of seven surviving medieval guilds in York and are still based at their hall in Aldwark, which was extensively restored in the twentieth century. As a registered charity the company provide financial support for deserving young people in the fields of art, craftsmanship and music.
They also take part in the revived York Mystery Plays and continue to hold their annual Charter Day procession and court meeting on 24 June, the feast day of St John the Baptist.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute by the Merchant Taylors' Company in 1978. Further additions were made to the archive in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2017.

The Merchant Taylors’ Company of York can trace its origins to at least 1387 when the ordinances of a guild of tailors were recorded in the city’s memorandum book.
Initially the guild was associated with the religious and charitable confraternity of St John the Baptist, being described as the ‘guild of tailors of Blessed John’ in a will of 1386.
By the beginning of the fifteenth century work had begun on a hall for the fraternity in Aldwark, which was completed by 1415. In that year the city authorities leased land adjoining the new hall to a combined group of tailors and members of the fraternity. An adjoining ‘maisondieu,’ or almshouse, run by the fraternity, was present from at least 1446.
In 1453 the Fraternity of St John the Baptist was granted a license of perpetual incorporation by King Henry VI. The license had been requested by fifteen York tailors and has been viewed as implicitly fusing the fraternity of St John and the mystery of tailors in York into a single legal entity.
Under the terms of the license, the brothers and sisters of the fraternity could elect a master and four wardens at the feast of St John the Baptist every year, could have their own common seal, and could hold lands and tenements for the purpose of maintaining their own chaplain.
The Hall of St John subsequently became the administrative centre of the clothing trade in the city. When the fraternity was abolished at the Reformation, the master tailors took ownership of the hall and its property in their own right. From 1545 it began to be referred to officially as the Merchant Taylors’ Hall.
In 1550-1551, the guild amalgamated with the city’s guild of drapers to form the Company of Tailors and Drapers of York. New ordinances were drawn up, introducing the offices of clerk and beadle and setting out fines for guild officers who refused to serve when elected. By 1585 another associated trade, the hosiers, began to appear in guild records.
Following the plague epidemic of 1604-5, the company passed additional ordinances designed to tighten control over tailoring within the city and to prevent ‘foreign’ or non-York craftsmen from working there. The company’s beadle and searchers were given the power to search houses and those found to be working without permission were to be fined by the city authorities.
In 1662 King Charles II granted the company their own royal charter of incorporation as ‘The Company of Merchant Taylors in the City of York.’ The charter confirmed their legal status and authority to regulate the trades of tailor and draper in the city and within a two mile radius of it.
In the eighteenth century the philanthropic work of the company increased. Court minute books record payments to the inmates of the maisondieu and to other needy brethren and their families. Between 1729 and 1730 they also raised funds to demolish and rebuild the almshouse and endowed it with rentals from properties in Micklegate and Walmgate.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century the company’s traditional control over trade in the city was in decline. Following an unsuccessful court case in 1818 they were also obliged to end the practice of requiring tailors and drapers to become freemen of the company, leaving them a voluntary organisation with few enforceable legal powers. In 1835 the Municipal Corporations Act formally removed all guild restrictions on industrial activity.
As a result, in 1879 the decision was taken to extend membership to a limited number from outside the guild’s traditional trades and to further focus activity on charitable works. As well as supporting needy company members and their own almshouse, the company also gave to local educational, medical and ecclesiastical causes.
Today the Company of Merchant Taylors are one of seven surviving medieval guilds in York and are still based at their hall in Aldwark, which was extensively restored in the twentieth century. As a registered charity the company provide financial support for deserving young people in the fields of art, craftsmanship and music.
They also take part in the revived York Mystery Plays and continue to hold their annual Charter Day procession and court meeting on 24 June, the feast day of St John the Baptist.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute. This includes all material received up to and including 2010.

The register of admissions, 1560-1835, has been published by the Borthwick Institute (see publication note below).

Includes VHS videotape. Access to audiovisual material may be restricted due to technical requirements, please contact the Borthwick Institute for more information.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 08.07.15.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are expected.

The records of the York Innholders' Company, 1593-1824, and the York Weavers' Company, 1592-1792, are held by York Explore.
Records of the York Bakers' Company, including ordinances, 16th century-19th century, register, 1586-1670, accounts, 1543-1836, and other papers, are held by the British Library (Additional Manuscripts).

D. M. Smith (ed). 'A Guide to the Archives of the Company of Merchant Taylors in the City of York' (University of York, 1994).

D. M. Smith (ed). 'The Company of Merchant Taylors in the City of York: Register of Admissions 1560-1835' (University of York, 1996).

Published

GB 193