Guildable Manor

Guildable Manor of Southwark
MottoFloreat Villa et Burgus de Southwarke
LocationColechurch House, London Bridge Walk, Southwark, London SE1 2SX
Date of formationca 880 AD
Company associationCourts Leet and Southwark Borough
Master of company'Foreman' from 13 November 2024: John Spanner TD
Websitehttp://www.guildablemanor.org

Guildable Manor is a Court Leet in Southwark under the authority of the City of London, along with the King's Manor, Southwark, and the Great Liberty.[1] The name of 'Guildable' first recorded in 1377 refers to the collection of taxes there and was adopted to distinguish this from the other manors of the Southwark area.[2] Its legal title, according to a royal charter granted to the City by King Edward III in 1327, is 'the ville of Southwark' i.e. 'ville = 'town'; in the more substantive charter of Edward VI it is designated 'The Town and Borough of Southwark'[3] as is stated on its Seal.[4] It is a preserved limited jurisdiction under the Administration of Justice Act 1977.[5] Although neither a guild nor a livery company, the Guildable Manor does have a permanent organization, consisting of officers and jurors.

The Court of Aldermen of the City appoints a High Steward. Since 1900 this has been the Recorder of London, sitting at the Old Bailey.[6][failed verification] The Aldermen also appoint a High Bailiff, since 1750 this had been the current Under Sheriff and Secondary of London, since 2017 this is now the senior administrator of the Old Bailey.[7] Once a year, usually on the second Wednesday in November, these two officials swear into office the Jurors and their nominated Officers.

The area of the Manor includes the south-side footing of London Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, Hays Galleria and The Shard.[8] In 2012 a small connecting street was named 'Guildable Manor Street' to commemorate the institution, formally opened in 2018.[9]

  1. ^ David Johnson, Southwark and the City (Oxford University Press, 1968), pp. 10-25
  2. ^ David Johnson, Southwark and the City (Oxford University Press, 1968)
  3. ^ Both charters reproduced and translated as Appendix in David Johnson, Southwark and the City (Oxford University Press, 1968)
  4. ^ Picture of seal impression of 1664 opp p299 Johnson
  5. ^ Administration of Justice Act 1977, listed at Schedule 4 Part III
  6. ^ The High Steward since June 2020 is HHJ Mark Lucraft QC, https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
  7. ^ The present High Bailiff is Myles Kaplan, https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
  8. ^ The limits and borders of the three Southwark Manors are outlined in "Report of the Royal Commission on Municipal Corporations: London and Southwark" HC 239, p3 n (1837), xxv.
  9. ^ http://london-gazette.vlex.co.uk/vid/guildable-southwark-bays-385797328 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF_x1dOhZsQ