BEST OF BRITISH
“The British Empire was built with help from the guilds, which in Anglo Saxon means to gild or to pay.”
1. Worshipful Company of Mercers, known as the premier company. The word mer- cer comes from the Latin meaning merchandise.
Royal Mint to make sure they were not made out of lead.
6 & 7 The Merchant Taylors and Skinners who dealt with the fur trade occupy these positions. They argued over precedence so each year they swap position. This is where the British English term “at sixes and sevens” meaning indecision, comes from.
2. Worshipful Company of Grocers, formerly known as the Pepperers.
8. Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, originally silk and velvet merchants, they support many schools of the same name.
9. Worshipful Company of Salters, their motto is Sal Sapit Omnia, Latin for “salt savours all”. This company now supports education in chemistry and the chemical industry.
10.Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. Their crest contains two medieval salamanders said to be able survive fire.
The only way to membership in a livery company used to be via patrimony, or being the child of a member. Nowadays you can also be proposed by an existing member or sometimes it’s possible to join a modern company if you are directly involved in the business or trade it represents. Livery companies have vast networks through their historic pasts and their Halls can sometimes be visited through the Open House Weekend which usually takes place in September each year, or through arranged appointments.
3. Worshipful Company of Drapers, located behind the Bank of England, created for the benefit of cloth and wool traders.
4. Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, which received its first Royal Charter in 1272, located at Fish Hall, London Bridge. Eels and oysters were a staple of London from medieval times to the Victorian era hence its location close to the river. Princess Anne is the current Prime Warden.
5. Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Royal Charter 1327. The word hallmarking comes from the fact that precious metals were taken to the hall for marking. The guild also checked the quality of British coinage from the
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Gary Griffiths is a bibliophile, car enthusiast and aficionado of London history.
11. Worshipful Company of Vintners. All things wine, they control the selling of wine within the City and certain other places throughout Britain. Oddly, their crest shows three tuns, i.e. barrels, as well as swans from their tradition of swan upping which tags all mute swans for The Queen.
12. Worshipful Company of Clothworkers came about from the amalgamation of two companies, the Shearmen and the Fullers in 1528. They recently commissioned a tapestry designed by Turner Prize winner Chris Ofili CBE called The Caged Bird’s Song, which is on display at their Hall.
Many of the companies do not have a connection with their original trades, as some may no longer exist, but they continue to work with charities, schools and societies to promote development, good governance and community projects.
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths FOCUS The Magazine 13
Worshipful Company of Grocers
Worshipful Company of Mercers
19th century ironmongers
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