| Description | Order books, 1587-1974; order and minute book, 1602-1976, company book, 1671-1976; minute book, 1706-1788; account book, 1680-1734; letters, 1937-1973; company oath and declaration 1970s. |
| Administrative History | The Cappers, Pinners and Wiredrawers were originally separate from the Linendrapers. However, during the 16th century, the three trades experienced difficulties in meeting their share of the expense of producing the Whitsun Plays and the Midsummer Show, and were therefore joined by the Linnendrapers. On 4 October 1552, the Company was granted a charter by the Mayor and Citizens (See Harleian MSS 1996, No.8).
In 1602, the Bricklayers were ordered to join the Company, but became a separate Company by order of the City Assembly in 1679, on account of `their Chargeableness and Rudeness'.
The Company's first order book (Ref. G6/1) was written by George Bellin, Clerk of Holy Trinity Church, and includes two chapters from the Bible: Hebrews, Chapter I, and the Gospel of St.John, Chapter I.
For references to the Company in the 16th century, see R.H.Morris, Chester in the Plantagenet and Tudor Reigns [1894], pp.309, 316, 435-436. |