|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
The collection contains foundation, membership, administrative and financial records of the society itself and records of the work in which it was involved. These include papers related to trade (including the trafficking and labour of enslaved Africans), as well as land ownership, education, charities, clubs and societies, as detailed in the 'arrangement' section
|
|
|
-
The collection contains foundation, membership, administrative and financial records of the society itself and records of the work in which it was involved. These include records related to trade (including substantial material on the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans), as well as charities, education, estates, clubs and societies, as detailed in the 'arrangement' section
The term 'Merchant Venturer' or 'Merchant Adventurer' initially described individuals trading overseas, but was gradually applied to organised groups of merchants. In London, Newcastle, York and Hull, for example, there were societies of Merchant Adventurers which were related to, and under some control of, the Merchant Adventurers of England. However, the Society of Merchant Venturers (SMV) of Bristol is an independent organisation with no connection to the Merchant Adventurers of England.
The SMV may have its origins in a guild of Bristol merchants that existed in the 13th century. A century later, the Corporation (now Bristol City Council) agreed that that a fellowship of merchants would be created, to be led by a ‘master’, who would be a previous mayor or sheriff of the city.
In 1552, Edward VI granted a royal charter awarding a number of merchants a limited monopoly of trade ‘beyond the seas’. This charter incorporated them as the 'Master, Wardens and Commonalty of Merchant Venturers of the City of Bristol', with the Master sworn in each year by the city’s mayor. In 1569, both the SMV and the city were granted coats of arms and there are many other links between the history of the SMV and the history of Bristol.
Subsequent monarchs granted new charters to the SMV. The present constitution was set out in a charter of 1639 granted by Charles I, by which the Master and Wardens were given 10 assistants. Together, they formed a Standing Committee which increased from 13 to 15 members in 1989, through a charter from Queen Elizabeth II.
This committee still forms the executive body of the SMV. In accordance with the charter, it is elected annually on 10 November by all the members without recourse to the Mayor and Aldermen. The Merchant Venturers have thereby achieved independent corporate status, similar to London livery companies such as the Vintners' Company.
Individual members of the society backed various voyages of exploration in the 16th century and these increased in the early 17th century. The voyages to Newfoundland, however, were an SMV project and the first Governor of the colony, John Guy, was Master of the SMV in 1622. Later, another Merchant Venturer, Thomas James, led an expedition to the Hudson Bay area. Both Thomas James and John Guy were aldermen of the city.
From the early 17th century until 1848, the society controlled the city docks through a succession of wharfage leases with the Corporation. In effect, they were the port authority, responsible for keeping the River Avon navigable, controlling the pilots and extending the quays as trade increased. As a result, the 18th century, when trade with the West Indies and Africa grew, was a particularly active period in its history.
This trade relied on the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans. Until 1698, the Royal African Company had a monopoly over the trade. However, following lobbying from the SMV and merchants in Liverpool, access was opened up to other merchants.
Many of the SMV’s members were involved, investing in voyages, plantations and exports that profited from enslaved labour. The SMV actively worked to sustain and protect these financial interests, including lobbying against the abolition of the slave trade.
By the time the slave trade was abolished in 1833, the SMV’s 250-year involvement with the port had reduced substantially.
As its commercial influence waned, it turned its attention to promoting education through the Colston's schools and the Merchant Venturers' Technical College. After 1909, the college provided the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Bristol.
The SMV continued to maintain the Merchants' Almshouse and other almshouses to support elderly people. In 1920, it also became endowment trustees of the St Monica Trust founded by Monica and Henry Wills.
From the 1830s, the SMV developed the Manor of Clifton acquired in the late 17th century and in 1861, it presented the Downs to the people of Bristol 'in perpetuity'. It was also involved in setting up the Great Western Railway Company and the construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
In the 20th century, the SMV took over the management of substantial trusts with an emphasis on youth.
The original Merchants' Hall was on King Street but suffered two serious hits during World War II. The two wings of the Merchants’ Almshouses are now all that remain of a much larger complex. The SMV’s records were safely stored in the cellar of the hall and later moved with the SMV to the new Merchants Hall on The Promenade, Clifton. This hall was built in 1868 as Fern House and Auckland House, which were combined to form the new hall in 1953.
|
|
|
-
Received on indefinite loan from the Society of Merchant Venturers in 2005 to provide easier access to members of the public as well as ensure professional care, cataloguing and storage. Please note that some items, notably the charters, are listed in the catalogue but retained by the Society at Merchants' Hall where some of them are displayed.
|
|
|
-
The records of the Society have been arranged to reflect the various aspects of their work over the course of its existence.
SMV/1 Foundation & Membership
This includes records relating to the foundation of the Society, such as charters, the grant of arms, and ordinances, and records relating to membership of the Society including apprentices, admissions, lists of members and honorary members, and some other related records.
SMV/2 Administrative
Administrative records include the proceedings of the hall, such as hall books (minute books) and calendars of records.
SMV/3 Financial
These include accounts, vouchers and investment records.
SMV/4 Charities
The administrative records of the Merchants' Almshouse, Colston's Almshouse, Hill's Almshouse, St Nicholas’ Almshouse, the Almshouse charity, St Monica Home, and other related records. There is also a good series of vouchers for Colston's charity.
SMV/5 Education
Financial, legal and administrative records of Colston's Hospital, Coston's Hospital Trust, Merchants' Hall Marine School, Trade and Mining school, Merchant Venturers' Technical College, and the University of Bristol. These include records of candidates for Colston Hospital (school).
SMV/6 Estates management
Administrative records of the property of the Society including deeds, leases, rentals, valuations and surveys, maps and plans, sales, accounts, development and war damage. Properties include various Bristol properties, the Manor of Clifton, Hotwells, and several Somerset manors and properties.
SMV/7 Trade
Port and Docks
The records of the administration and development of the port and docks, including pilotage, imports and exports, accounts, wharfage and cranage records and related material.
Overseas Trade
Records relating to trade with Africa and the West Indies, America, Ireland, customs and excise duties and various legal matters. These include records relating to financial interests in the trafficking and labour of enslaved Africans.
Local trade and development
These cover Acts of Parliament, canals, lighthouses, and the Great Western Railway.
SMV/8 Associated clubs and societies
Records relating to the Dolphin Society, the Steadfast Society, and the West India Association.
SMV/9 Seaman's Hospital Fund
Administrative, financial and legal records including deeds, minutes, and hospital accounts, ships' musters, and records of pensioners - such as seamens' petitions or certificates, and hospital orders.
SMV/10 Indexes
There are indexes relating to members which include CVs; to pupils in Colston's Hospital (School); to almshouse residents; to ships and their captains. The indexes to the Hall or Minute Books of the Merchant Venturers are divided into various headings, e.g. Trade and public affairs, the school under the hall, and Manor of Clifton.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
Copyright is retained by the SMV, who have granted Bristol City Council the unrestricted right to use or grant the use of material for educational, academic or non-commercial purposes and retain any income as a contribution towards the costs of the ongoing upkeep of the collection. Any commercial use requires the consent of the Society of Merchant Venturers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
