Gerald Cobb

This collection comprises a range of largely image based archive, presented in 136 site based or themed albums, chronologically arranged within each album. Th albums have been catalogued at item level and contain a total of 14, 338 individual items. They were compiled from the 1950s to the 1980s. The majority of items in the albums date from the late nineteenth century and early to mid twentieth century, although there is material from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Gerald Cobb (1899 - 1986) built up this remarkable collection over a lifetime and it was his wish that it should be deposited with the National Monuments Record. A trained artist, he worked in the College of Arms for over 60 years and was also a brother of the Art Workers' Guild. He was a member of the Ecclesiological Society and their Vice President in 1976, and was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

The collection focuses mainly on the major ecclesiastical buildings, Peterborough Cathedral (3) and Wells Cathedral (3). Most other major sites are also covered, in 1 or 2 albums each. Ecclesiasitcal sites comprise 67% of the collection, with a further 8% on church monuments., such as cathedrals and abbeys. There is significant coverage of the following: St Pauls Cathedral in London (21 albums), Canterbury Cathedral (13), Ely Cathedral (5), Gloucester Cathedral (5), Durham Cathedral (5), Lincoln Cathedral (5), York Minster (5), Lichfield Cathedral (4)

The albums also feature domestic and commercial/industrial buildings such as markets, also Rochester Castle and town, Lincoln, Durham, Canterbury, Croydon and others., galleried inns, weatherboarded houses, and former mercantile and dock buildings with a London emphasis. There are 21 albums of various London sites or

themes:, such as crypts, religious houses, streets and shops. Other historic towns and sites are represented, York in 3 albums, Windsor Castle and Eton in 2 albums

Cobb published two books based on his collection, 'The Old Churches of London' (1942) and 'English Cathedrals: The Forgotten Centuries' (1980).

There has been a further acquisition of a large number of files, album contents left unbound but sorted by site or theme, which is uncatalogued (COB01/02). The Guildhall Print Room holds the London City churches component of these files.

A subsequent acquisition of 29 mounted photographic prints is also uncatalogued (COB01/03)

Creator of Archive: Gerald Cobb

Copyright: Refer Copyright To National Monuments Record Archives

Public

Received via Nicholas Redman, Archivist at Whitbreads and executor of Cobb estate, 1987

Provenance : Documentary and image-based material assembled in thematic, chronological manner by noted ecclesiastical architectural historian, antiquarian and author of works on Cathedrals and London City Churches (1899-1986)

Cobb Sub-groups:

COB01/1: Cobb Albums

COB01/2: 22/05/2000 Acquisition

COB01/3: 01/06/2000 Acquisition

Coverage : Cathedrals, abbeys, churches and other ecclesiastical sites and remains

Coverage of London : markets, galleried inns, weatherboarded houses and former mercantile and dock buildings National coverage, but with strong emphasis on London

COB01/2: Ecclesiastical and secular coverage with an emphasis on churches and cathedrals. There is a substantial amount of material relating to Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

COB01/3: Mainly churches and cathedrals.