Name: Writing a history of the City of London Corporation
Start: 2026-05-27T18:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-05-27T19:00:00+01:00
Location: The London Archives

Writing a history of the City of London Corporation

Join Ian Doolittle as he introduces his new book, 'Logic Has Its Limits: Making Historical Sense of the City of London Corporation'
About this Event

Ian Doolittle has just published Logic Has Its Limits: Making Historical Sense of the City of London Corporation - a study of the “historical sense” behind the Corporation’s remarkable survival. The book explores themes such as City boundaries, the Freedom, City & Guilds, charters, customs and statutes, politics, local government, City Cash, and public benefit. Its title comes from the 1957–60 Royal Commission report that famously concluded: “Logic has its limits and the position of the City lies outside them.”

In this talk, Ian will discuss the questions he tackles in the book - including why the City did not expand to absorb the suburbs, and how it managed to withstand repeated attempts to abolish it. There will also be an opportunity to view a selection of original documents that illuminate the themes he explores.

Ian has written and presented widely on the history of the City of London. His books include The City of London and its Livery Companies (1982, 2010) and The Mercers’ Company, 1579–1958 (1994). He first worked on the City Corporation’s archives in 1974 and has recently completed a historical account of the City Bridge Foundation, to be published this year as Bridges and More.