CITY LIVERY COMPANIES

 

See Also: BIRDS Swans; BOOKSHOPS, DISAPPEARED St Paul's Churchyard; BREWING The Brewers' Company; CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHURCHES St Olave's Hart Street; THE CITY OF LONDON; FOOTWEAR Cordwainers; FOOTWEAR St Margaret Pattens; THE GREAT TWELVE COMPANIES; GUNS The Gunmakers' Company; HAIR Barbers, The Barber-Surgeons' Company; HALLS; LOCAL GOVERNMENT Vestries, The Bills of Mortality; PHILANTHROPY; SMALL ITEMS Fans, The Fanmakers' Company; STREET FURNITURE Paving, The Paviors' Company; STREETS, SPECIALISED; TIMEPIECES The Clockmakers Museum; WATERMEN The Watermen & Lightermen's Company

The City of London livery companies grew out of guilds. Some have retained their links with their original trades while others have metamorphosed away, either in part or fully. The principal ones are the Great Twelve. They are: the Mercers, the Grocers, the Drapers, the Fishmongers, the Goldsmiths, the Merchant Taylors, the Skinners, the Haberdashers, the Salters, the Ironmongers, the Vintners, and the Clothmakers. In 1515 the Companies were ranked in an order of precedence that reflected the date of their having been established. The Skinners and the Merchant Taylors were unable to agree as to which of them was the older and should therefore be ranked sixth. As a result, the pair alternate between that position and seventh.1

The present-day membership of Companies is drawn both from people who work in the City and from people who do not. New companies are still created from time to time, e.g. the Management Consultants, the International Bankers, the Tax Advisers, and the Security Professionals.

Website: www.liverycommittee.org

1. This gave rise to the phrase to be at sixes and sevens .

 

Armorial Bearings

See Also: CLASS The College of Arms

 

The Armourers & Brasiers' Company

In the 1980s Ted Smith (d.2006), a member of the Conservation Department of the Armouries of The Tower of London, became the first working armourer to join the Company of Armourers & Brasiers of London since the 17thC.

Location: Armourers Hall, 81 Coleman Street, EC2R 5BJ (red, blue)

Website: www.armourershall.co.uk

 

The Art Scholars' Company

The Guild of Art Scholars, Dealers & Collectors was set up in 2005 in order that it might become City livery company. It became one five years later. In 2019 it was granted a royal charter.

Location: 2 Toga Close, Colchester, CO2 9JJ

See Also: ART DEALERS; GALLERIES

Website: www.artsscholars.org

 

Barges

Some of the livery companies had their own grand barges.

See Also: THE THAMES

 

The Carpenters' Company

Following the Great Fire of 1666, the Rebuilding Act of 1666 transferred to the Court of the King's Bench for seven years the power to determine building trade's prices and wages, as well as the quality of the materials that were used by it. This weakened the Bricklayers and Carpenters' Companies. The Lord Mayor was required to enforce judges decisions. Section 16 of the measure allowed non-freemen of the trades to practice their craft in the City. The two livery companies never fully recovered from this.

Location: Carpenters Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, EC2N 2JJ (red, yellow)

See Also: BUILDING MATERIALS Timber

Website: www.carpentersco.com

 

Churches

The Mercers were the only livery company with a private chapel. This is because of a deal at the time of the dissolution of monasteries when private chapels were rendered public.

See Also: CITY OF LONDON CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHURCHES

The Clothworkers' Company

The Clothworkers' Company's original City church was St Dunstan-in-the-East. The church was destroyed by aerial bombing in 1941. The guild transferred its affiliation to St Olave's.

Location: 8 Hart Street, EC3R 7NB (blue, orange)

St Dunstan's Hill, EC3R 5DD (purple, turquoise)

Website: www.clothworkers.co.uk

The Stationers' Company

St Faith s-under-Paul's was the stationers church. It was destroyed during the Great Fire. It was still burning a week later. The Mosley family kept stock there that may have included now lost works by Shakespeare.

Location: St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD (purple, turquoise)

 

The Cooks' Company

The Cooks had freemaiden members as early as 1495. Women were not admitted to full membership until 2003.

In 1771 Cooks' Hall was destroyed by fire.

Location: Aldersgate Street, EC1A 4JA

See Also: FOOD

Website: www.cooks.org.uk

 

The Cordwainers' Company

The predecessor to the Cordwainers' Company existed in the late 13thC. The Company was granted a royal charter in 1439.

Cordwainers Hall was destroyed during the Blitz. The Company now uses Clothworkers Hall.

Location: St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD. The site of Cordwainers Hall. (purple, grey)

See Also: FOOTWEAR Cordwainers

 

The Cutlers' Company

Location: Cutlers Hall, Warwick Lane, EC4M 7BR (blue, turquoise)

See Also: FOOD Feasting, Boar's Head Dinner; SMALL ITEMS Cutlery

Website: www.cutlerslondon.co.uk

 

The Glaziers & Painters of Glass's Company

The Glaziers Hall houses the Glaziers & Painters of Glass, the Scientific Instrument Makers, and the Launderers.

Location: Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Close, SE1 9DD

See Also: BUILDING MATERIALS Glass

Website: http://glazierscompany.org.uk https://wcsim.co.uk www.launderers.co.uk

 

Halls

See Also: HALLS

Hall Sharing

In 2012 about 40 of the 108 companies had their own halls.

Farmers & Fletchers Hall

Location: Farmers & Fletchers Hall, Newbury Street, EC1A 7LD (purple, grey)

Website: www.farmerslivery.org.uk www.fletchers.org.uk

 

The Joiners & Ceilers' Company

See Also: BUILDING MATERIALS Timber

Website: www.joinersandceilers.co.uk

 

The Order of Precedence

The order of precedence was established in 1515. It reflected the guilds respective contemporary wealth and not their antiquity. (The Weavers predated the Mercers by a quarter of a millennium but were ranked only at No. 42.)

In 1746 the Worshipful Company of Carmen became the 77th livery company to be established. It was not until 1932 that next, the Master Mariners, was set up.

 

The Parish Clerks' Company

See Also: CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHURCHES

Website: www.londonparishclerks.com

Miracle Plays

In 1391 members of the Parish Clerks' Company staged a miracle play by Skinners Well that took three days to perform.

 

Property

The Haberdashers' Company developed an estate at New Cross, hence the street names, e.g. Pepys.

See Also: ESTATES

 

The Saddlers' Company

Members of the Saddlers' Company have included Frederick, Prince of Wales. He predeceased his father. There is a common belief that he died as a result of a cricket ball striking his head.

Location: Saddlers Hall, 40 Gutter Lane, EC2V 6BR (orange, yellow)

See Also: HORSES

Website: https://thesaddlers.org

 

Schools

See Also: BREWING The Brewers' Company, Dame Alice Owen's

Mercers School

Mercers School, Holborn.

Merchant Taylors' School

The Merchant Taylors' Company is involved in Merchant Taylors School

Location: Sandy Lodge, Moor Park, Northwood, HA6 2HT

 

The Spectacle Makers' Company

The Spectacle Makers' Company received its charter in 1629. It became the guild's practice that, if any of its members made spectacles that were judged to be inadequate, then, these were smashed against the London Stone.

Location: Apothecaries Hall, 10 Black Friars Lane, EC4V 6EL (blue, red)

See Also: EYEWEAR; STREET FURNITURE The London Stone

Website: www.spectaclemakers.com

 

The Stationers & Newspaper Makers' Company

The Stationers' Company was founded in 1403. It was granted a royal charter in 1557. Stationers Hall (1673) is its guild hall. The building was refronted in 1800.

St Faith s-under-Paul's was the stationers church. It was destroyed during the Great Fire. It was still burning a week later. The Mosley family kept stock there that may have included now lost works by Shakespeare.

For an author to be able to establish copyright of a book a copy of it had to be registered at Stationers Hall. The Royal Library had the right to receive a copy of every book that was registered with the Stationers' Company. In 1757 King George II gave the Royal Library to The British Museum, along with the gift the entitlement of receipt was also transferred to the Museum.

In 1911 the legal requirement for all licensed printing to be Entered at Stationers Hall ended.

Location: Stationers Hall, Stationers Hall Court, EC4M 7DD (orange, yellow)

See Also: BOOKSHOPS, DISAPPEARED; THE BRITISH LIBRARY The King's Library; PRINTING; STATIONERY

Website: www.stationers.org

 

The Tylers & Bricklayers' Company

Following the Great Fire of 1666 the Rebuilding Act of 1666 transferred to the Court of the King's Bench for seven years the power to determine building trade's prices and wages, as well as the quality of the materials that were used by it. This weakened the Bricklayers and Carpenters' Companies. The Lord Mayor was required to enforce judges decisions. Section 16 of the measure allowed non-freemen of the trades to practice their craft in the City. The two livery companies never fully recovered from this.

In the wake of the Great Fire of London the reconstruction of the metropolis required that Tylers & Bricklayers should lay aside their restrictions. The company never recovered its previous status.

See Also: BUILDING MATERIALS Bricks

Website: www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

 

The Water Conservators' Company

The Water-Bearers Hall disappeared under Liverpool Street Station.

Location: Liverpool Street Railway Station, Liverpool Street, EC2M 7PY (red, pink)

See Also: WATER SUPPLY

Website: www.waterconservators.org

 

The Watermen & Lightermen's Company

In 1671 Parliament considered a Bill for the construction of a bridge at Putney. The watermen lobbied against the measure. It did not pass into law.

An Act in 1676 prohibited watermen from plying their trade on Sundays. The measure only applied to licensed watermen. The unlicensed were largely unaffected. In 1685 a Bill to Regulate Hackney Carriages allowed a reasonable number to trade on Sundays. In 1700 40 deserving watermen were empowered to work on Sundays. They were allowed to charged raised fares but it was required that a proportion of their earnings should be paid to charity.

In 1694 William III agreed that no further watermen should be pressed.

Small-scale transport activity had been transferred to the roads. As a result, the watermen were experiencing economic difficulties. Their problem led to the establishment of the amalgamated Company of Watermen & Lightermen

The opening of Westminster Bridge (1748) had a negative impact upon the watermen s trade

Location: Watermen's Hall, 16-18 St Mary-at-Hill, EC3R 8EF (orange, grey)

See Also: WATERMEN

Website: https://watermenscompany.com

 

The Weavers' Company

The order of precedence was established in 1515. In part, the placing of a guild reflected its wealth at the time and not its antiquity. The Weavers predated the Mercers by a quarter of a millennium but was ranked only at No. 42.

Location: Saddlers Hall, 40 Gutter Lane, EC2V 6BR (orange, yellow)

See Also: CLOTH MANUFACTURING & TREATMENT

Website: https://weavers.org.uk

 

Women

Baroness Burdett-Coutts

Baroness Burdett-Coutts was the first women to be admitted to a livery company.

See Also: PHILANTHROPY Baroness Burdett-Coutts

Lady Charlotte Schreiber

Lady Charlotte Schreiber (n e Bertie) (1812-1895) collected playing cards, fans, and board games. In 1891 she became the first woman to be awarded the freedom of the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers. She was the second woman to be admitted to a livery company.

See Also: THE LADY QUILTER OF LANGHAM PLACE

 

The Woodmongers' Company

In the early 18thC the Woodmongers' Company controlled the coal trade in London. The Company struck an agreement with George Bowes's Grand Alliance. In the wake of this, it went into a steep decline. By 1746 it was defunct.

The Fuellers' Company claims to be descended from the Woodmongers. The Fuellers are based in Carmen Hall. The Carmen had been the Woodmongers rivals.

Location: Carmen Hall, 186c Fleet Street, EC4A 2HS (blue, red)

See Also: COAL

Website: www.fuellers.co.uk

 

The World Traders

As a senior director of the construction and property business, Peter Drew (1927-2007), as the head of the Taylor Woodrow subsidiary St Katharine by the Tower Ltd., led the redevelopment of St Katharine's Dock. One of the site's principal tenants was the World Trade Centre (London). Drew became a prominent of the W.T.C.A. movement. In 1985 he presided as Founding Master over the initial meeting of the Guild of World Traders. In 2000 the Guild became a full Livery company as the Worshipful Company of World Traders

Website: www.world-traders.org

David Backhouse 2024