Trinity House records
1. About this guide
This guide explains how to research the surviving records of the Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond.
Trinity House was incorporated by royal charter in 1514. For most of its history, it has had three main functions:
- General lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar (Scotland, Northern Island and the Republic of Ireland have separate lighthouse authorities)
- Pilotage authority for London and forty other districts (known as outports)
- Charitable organisation for the relief of mariners and their dependants
The records of the Corporation of Trinity House were subject to fire in 1666 and 1714 and bombing in 1940. Though the court minutes survive from 1661, many other series of records are only present from the 19th century.
2. Searching the catalogue
You can search the surviving records on the LMA Collections Catalogue under reference code CLC/526. Scroll down to Collection Tree View to see the full list.
3. Online Records
None of these records are available online.
4. Lighthouses and lighthouse keepers
Most records of lighthouses and lighthouse keepers were destroyed in the 1940 bombing of Trinity House. Browse CLC/526-05 for a list of surviving records.
Key records include:
- Light committee minutes, 1941-77 (CLC/526/MS30076)
- Visiting committees' reports on light houses, light vessels, buoys and beacons, 1900 - 1936 (CLC/526/MS30094)
- Engineer's weekly reports on building works for lighthouses and beacons, 1838 - 1839 (CLC/526/MS30095)
- Register of staff appointed, 1914-72 (CLC/526/MS30121)
'Station book' listing keepers and crews, 1941-55 (CLC/526/MS30122) - Registers of pensionable staff (staff born 1870-1931) (CLC/526/MS30055)
To supplement the missing records, it is advisable to also search the following minutes:
- Court minutes, 1661 - 2000 (CLC/526/MS30004)
- Board minutes, 1685 - 2000 (CLC/526/MS30010)
- Wardens' minutes, 1822 - 1994 (CLC/526/MS30025)
5. Pilots
A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through narrow and difficult waters. Pilots were licensed, not employed, by Trinity House. Records of the examination and licensing of pilots only begin in 1808 as earlier registers are presumed to have been destroyed in the 1940 bombing of Trinity House. Browse CLC/526-06 for a list of surviving records.
Key records include:
- Registers of pilots' licences (London) 1808-1855, 1865-1986 (CLC/526/MS30172)
- Registers of pilots' licences (outports) 1808-1846, 1810-1876 (CLC/526/MS30174)
- Lists of pilots already working in outports, 1808 (CLC/526/MS30193)
- Returns of pilotage, 1854 - 1874, 1877 - 1882 (CLC/526/MS30198)
- Pilotage committee minutes (1809-1969) (CLC/526/MS30158)
The registers of pilots' licences are indexed by name on the LMA Collections Catalogue. Simply search for the pilot's name.
6. Help for mariners and their dependents
Until 1854, British mariners and their families could petition Trinity House to receive a pension or to enter an almshouse.
Key records include:
- Main series of petitions, 1787-1854 (CLC/526/MS30218A)
- Second series of petitions, 1787-1853 (CLC/526/MS30218B)
- Miscellaneous almshouse and pension papers, 1790 - 1890 (CLC/526/MS30218C)
- Apprenticeship indentures of seamen, 1780, 1810 - 1851 (CLC/526/MS30218D)
These records are all indexed on Findmypast - see Trinity House Calendars 1787-1854 (charges apply).
Further records include:
- Registers of almspeople and pensioners, 1729 - 1868, 1894 - 1995 (CLC/526/MS30218)
- Registers of almspeople, 1845 - 1971 (CLC/526/MS30219)
7. Records held elsewhere?
Some staff records after 1910 are held still held at Trinity House. Please see the Trinity House website for further information.