RESEARCH GUIDE 51 - Records of the Corporation of Trinity House CONTENTS Introduction Background General lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar Charitable organisation for the relief of mariners and their dependants Other functions and records Records held elsewhere Introduction The records of the Corporation of Trinity House have suffered from fire in 1666 and 1714 and from bombing in 1940. Though the court minutes survive from 1661, many other series of records are only present from the 19th century. Because of the many ways in which the Corporation of Trinity House has touched on British maritime life, the records which survive are still very rich and extremely varied. NB: The archive is subject to a thirty year closure period and researchers must seek permission to see any record less than thirty years old. Please ask staff at the Information Desk or email [email protected] for further details. Background The Corporation of Trinity House was incorporated by royal charter in 1514. There is a tradition which dates the existence of a Trinity guild from the 13th century but there is no firm evidence to support this. When the charter was granted, Trinity House had a hall and almshouses at Deptford. Premises were acquired in Ratcliff and Stepney in the 17th century and meetings were held at all three sites. The Corporation bought a property in Water Lane in the City of London in 1660. The Hall in Water Lane burnt down and was rebuilt twice, in 1666 and 1714. When it proved too cramped for proposed improvements in the 1790s, the Corporation bought land at Tower Hill on which Trinity House was built 1793-6. The present building retains the 1790s facade but a bomb on 30 December 1940 destroyed most of the rest of the original building which was sympathetically rebuilt in 1952-3. Functions The Corporation of Trinity House has had three main functions for most of its history: General lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar Pilotage authority for London and forty other districts Charitable organisation for the relief of mariners and their dependants General lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar Trinity House is responsible for providing lighthouses, light vessels, buoys and beacons. Until 1836 though, the Corporation of Trinity House did not have a monopoly on the erection of lighthouses and many were built by private entrepreneurs. This competition occurred because of the large sums of money which could be raised from 'light dues', charges levied on ships entering or leaving port. Light dues were collected by Customs officials in each port, acting as collectors for the Corporation of Trinity House and the other proprietors. From 1841, when the Corporation bought the last lighthouse in private hands, all lighthouse keepers were employed as Trinity House staff. The dues continued to be collected by H M Customs and the money was paid (from 1898) into the General Lighthouse Fund. The Corporation of Trinity House is not responsible (and never has been) for Scottish or Irish lights although it does advise the separate lighthouse authorities for Scotland and Ireland (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland). General sources for lighthouse history Light committee minutes, 1941-77. (Ms 30076) This series begins in 1941 as earlier volumes of minutes were destroyed by the bomb which landed on Trinity House, Tower Hill, in 1940. The light committee inspects lighthouses, lightvessels, buoys and beacons and is in charge of the operation of the lighthouse and lightvessel service. Before 1941 other records have to be used. There is much lighthouse material in the archive, some of which can be found relatively easily. Lengthy searches may sometimes be necessary, particularly if the volumes are unindexed. Court minutes, 1661-2000. (Ms 30004) There are many lighthouse entries (except for 1665-76) and all volumes are indexed. Search under 'lights and individual lighthouse names. References are to both Corporation of Trinity House and private lighthouses. Board minutes, 1685-2000. (Ms 30010) There are many lighthouse entries, some short but others are very detailed. From 1746, all volumes are indexed - look under 'lights' and individual lighthouse names. Letter books, 1685-1747. (Ms 30048) These volumes contain much about lighthouses. The letters can be quite detailed and informative. Letters patent granting right to erect lighthouses, 1616-1839. (Ms 30071-2) Wardens' committee minutes, 1822-1994. (Ms 30025) These minutes are very useful for lighthouses and are all indexed. They include joint meetings of the Wardens and Light Committee so they do help to make up for the missing Light Committee minutes. Examining committee minutes, 1864-1975. (Ms 30073) Very brief entries dealing with proposed lights as well as those already erected. The examining committee recommends the establishment of new lighthouses, buoys and beacons and alterations to existing lighthouses, buoys and beacons. Visiting committees' inspection reports, 1900-36. (Ms 30094) Detailed reports of visits to individual lighthouses. Engineer's weekly reports on lighthouses being built, 1838-9. (Ms 30095) Very useful – for the two years for which they survive, they make up for the missing light committee minutes. Reports of the Corporation's scientific advisor (Michael Faraday 1836-65), 1836-71. Papers on the illumination of lighthouses. (Ms 30108-9) NB: Some of the Faraday papers require production of a current History Card for access. Registers of title deeds of sites of lighthouses, 1820s-65. (Ms 30123) The registers include transcriptions of deeds from 1637-1835. Copy catalogues of plans and drawings of lighthouses (including those sold or demolished), 18th century onwards. (Ms 30131A) NB: The originals are held by Trinity House. For more information please write to Trinity House, The Quay, Harwich C012 3JW or telephone 01255 245155 or email [email protected]. Records of individual lighthouses There are no series of records about individual lighthouses. Most records of the lighthouse and light vessel service appear to have been destroyed in the 1940 bombing of Trinity House. The archive includes some miscellaneous papers of individual lighthouses, mainly predating Trinity House's acquisition of the light. These were probably bought or given to Trinity House during the twentieth century. These papers are only substantial for the following lighthouses: Eddystone, 1708-1824 (and a little later material). (Ms 30127-31) Spurn, 1765-77. (Ms 30143) Winterton and Orfordness, 1692-1720. (Ms 30146-8) Miscellaneous papers of individual lighthouses (Ms 30124-50) There are hardly any lighthouse log books in the archive (they are held for North Foreland and St. Mary's Island, Whitley Bay only). They are believed to remain (inaccessible) in each lighthouse. Photographs, pamphlets and research notes Pamphlets and research notes on the lighthouse service and on individual lighthouses, 1940s-70s. (Ms 30116-7; Ms 30368; Ms 30377) Glass lantern slides. Probably made in the 1930s but contain some 19th century images of lighthouses. (Ms 30362A) Photographs and postcards of English and Welsh lighthouses, 1900-71. (Ms 30363-5) Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH, holds many books about British lighthouses. There is a general history of Trinity House lighthouses, The Lighthouses of Trinity House by Richard Woodman and Jane Wilson (2002) as well as a series of pamphlets about individual lighthouses by Martin Boyle called the Lighthouses of England and Wales. Much of the detail in the history and the pamphlets is derived from the lighthouse plans retained by Trinity House. For more information please email [email protected] or telephone 020 7332 1868. Records of lighthouse keepers and other employees Surviving records specifically of lighthouse keepers and the crews of light vessels and Trinity House cutters are all 20th century. Most records of the lighthouse and light vessel service appear to have been destroyed in the 1940 bombing of Trinity House. Some pension records covering staff appointed 1900-88 have been retained by Trinity House and enquirers should email requests for information to [email protected]. Specific family history sources are: Register of staff appointed 1914-72 (Ms 30121) 'Station book' listing keepers and crews 1941-55 (Ms 30122) Registers of pensionable staff (staff born 1870-1931) (Ms 30055) However, other sources can be used such as indexed volumes of court, board and wardens' minutes. It is worth trying to find the surname of the individual keeper first but you will normally have to look up the lighthouse name (if known) in the index. At some periods the keepers are grouped together in the index as 'lightkeepers' or 'keepers' and this is indicated below. Court minutes, 1661-date(Ms 30004) especially 1720-47 and 1816-51 when indexed as 'lightkeepers' or 'keepers' Board minutes, 1746-date (Ms 30010) especially from 1781 when sometimes indexed under surname and from 1809-41 when indexed as “lightkeepers” and then surname. NB from 1848 the board minutes indices are not very helpful for keepers and from the 1860s the board minute entries do not normally name the keeper Wardens' minutes, 1828-date (Ms 30025). From 1828 onwards try the Wardens' minutes first. The entries in the Wardens' minutes are quite informative and normally name the keeper(s). From 1828-54 the entries are indexed as 'lightkeepers'. From 1854 try 'lighthouse service' and 'lightvessel service' as well as individual surnames Pilotage authority for London and forty other districts (known as outports) including Southampton but excluding Liverpool, Bristol and several ports in the North-East of England. Although the Corporation had general powers to regulate pilotage from 1514 and the exclusive right to license pilots on the Thames from 1604, the system of outports was only formally established in 1808. The pilotage service was financed by a levy on pilots' earnings, by dues paid by vessels and by pilots' licences.