Worshipful Companies of London 1558/9
The following is a list of the relevant livery companies in 1558/9, the year of Elizabeth I's coronation. The companies included are the Great
Twelve Livery companies, as well as a few others which are relevant to
Elizabeth's coronation procession.Company Name: The name used to refer to the Company in
1558/9.Order of Precedence: In 1515, the Aldermen of the City of
London determined an order of precedence for the London livery companies
based on economic and political power. The twelve highest companies are
known as the Great Twelve Livery Companies, and London Aldermen were
selected from these twelve companies.Description: A brief description of the Company.Hall: A list of the location(s) that served as the company
headquarters.Notable Dates: A list of the dates relevant to the history
and foundation of the Company.REED Records: A link to the REED collection of records
pertaining to the Company.This work was produced by Rachel Milio.Worshipful Company of Mercers The Mercers' Company was a trade association for merchants, especially
those involved with the import luxury textiles such as velvet and silk and
the export of textiles such as wool.
Hall:
Mercers' Hall
Notable Dates:
1394: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3Acd917abe-77b6-47c9-a5ac-954dc319d4bc">REED Collection of Mercers' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of GrocersThe Grocers' Company, originally known as the Guild of Pepperers, was the
company responsible for the trade of spices, as well as maintaining
standards for the purity of spices and setting weights and measures.
Hall:
Grocers' Hall
Notable Dates:
1180: Earliest Mention1376: Formal Recognition1426: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3A54991065-5035-4c1f-8a6a-bc813eb6318f">REED Collection of Grocers' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of DrapersThe Drapers' Company was a trade association of wool and cloth merchants,
primarily selling cloth for clothing.
Hall(s):
Drapers' Hall (St. Swithin)Drapers' Hall
Notable Dates:
1361: Formal Recognition1438: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3A1ce85fed-8f2a-436d-a24a-ce07cc20ef17">REED Collection of Drapers' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of FishmongersThe Fishmongers' Company was a guild for the sellers of fish and seafood
in London. Anyone hoping to sell fish within the city would have to lodge
with a member of the guild.
Hall:
Fishmongers'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1272: Formal Recognition1433: Incorporation via Royal
CharterWorshipful Company of GoldsmithsThe Goldsmiths' Company was a guild for metalworkers specializing in gold.
Precious metals were also inspected and marked by Goldsmiths at their
Hall.
Hall:
Goldsmiths'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1180: Earliest Mention1300: Formal Recognition1327: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3A70b2d9ca-de90-4962-b35c-e3a576558b35">REED Collection of Goldsmiths' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of Merchant TaylorsThe Merchant Taylors' Company was originally the Tailors' Company, making
and trading garmets. However, in 1503, they became the Merchant Taylors,
reflecting the growing number of traders in the Company. The Merchant
Taylors and the Skinners alternated their order of precedence every
year.
Hall:
Merchant Taylors'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1327: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3A44a6576c-c58e-4ef4-b588-8259f084b544">REED Collection of Merchant Taylors' Company
Records</ref>Worshipful Company of Skinners
Hall:
Skinners' Hall
Notable Dates:
1327: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3Ad0216641-8087-409a-b383-f50b706c6dc3">REED Collection of Skinners' Company</ref>Worshipful Company of Haberdashersthe Haberdashers' Company was a merchants' guild associated with the trade
of silk and velvet.
Hall:
Haberdashers'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1371: Formal Recognition1448: Incorporation via Royal
CharterWorshipful Company of SaltersThe Salters Company was the guild associated with the salt trade and the
standards for salt products in London.
Hall:
Salters'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1216: Earliest Mention1394: Formal Recognition1559: Incorporation via Royal
CharterWorshipful Company of IronmongersThe Ironmongers' Company was responsible for the regulation of the iron
trade in London.
Hall:
Ironmongers'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1300: Earliest Mention1328: Formal Recogition1463: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3Ad61b7cad-ceae-4066-8eff-f13a957e064a">REED Collection of Ironmongers' Company
Records</ref>Worshipful Company of VintnersThe Vintners' Company held a monopoly over London wine imports from
Gascony, giving them dominance over the wine trade.
Hall:
Vintners' Hall
Notable Dates:
1363: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3Aeedef644-d930-4a6e-8efc-06899b916c57">REED Collection of Vintners' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of ClothworkersThe Clothworkers' Company was formed in 1528 by combining the Fullers'
Company and the Shearmens' Company, both guilds responsible for the final
stages of clothmaking, also known as 'finishing.' The Clothworkers were made
up of both craftsmen and merchants.
Hall:
Clothworkers'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1528: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3A224a4c61-3a30-4b71-aa20-1b98dafab749">REED Collection of Clothworkers' Company
Records</ref>Worshipful Company of LeathersellersThe Leathersellers' Company was responsible for the regulation of leather
merchants in London.
Halls:
Leathersellers' Hall (Moorgate)Leathersellers' Hall (Bishopsgate)
Notable Dates:
1372: Earliest Mention1398: Formal Recognition1444: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3Ac9b1ac1d-76bd-4732-8a76-09d710059076">REED Collection of Leathersellers' Company
Records</ref>Worshipful Company of CutlersThe Cutlers' Company was the guild responsible for producing, trading and
repairing knives, swords, and other implements with a cutting edge in
London.
Hall:
Cutlers' Hall
Notable Dates:
1344: Formal Recognition1416: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3A9a54ad83-ba34-4691-b190-68b6d65a9396">REED Collection of Cutlers' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of GirdlersThe Girdlers' Company was a guild for the makers of belts and girdles. The
Company also guards the secrets, standards and conditions of the manufacture
of girdles.
Hall:
Girdlers'
Hall1327: Formal Recognition1449: Incorporation via Royal
CharterWorshipful Company of CarpentersThe Carpenters' Company was a wood-crafting company in London. The
Carpenters are distinct from other wood-crafting companies such as the
Worshipful Company of Joiners because they used nails in their
wood-crafting, while the Joiners used adhesive.
Hall:
Carpenters'
Hall
Notable Dates:
1271: Formal Recognition1477: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3Aa4a2352f-0e85-4497-b547-4793c63d2789">REED Collection of Carpenters' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of FoundersThe Founders' Company was a guild for brass and bronze workers in the City
of London, and ensured standards of quality and workmanship in brass and
bronze working.
Hall:
Founders' Hall
Notable Dates:
1365: Formal Recognition1614: Incorporation via Royal
Charter<ref target="https://cwrc.ca/islandora/object/reed%3Ae7863bb4-6322-45f1-81ec-ef38af746fb1">REED Collection of Founders' Company Records</ref>Worshipful Company of ScrivenersThe Scriveners' company was the guild for the profession of scrivener
notaries, who made their living by reading and copying written material.
Only members of the Scriveners' Company were permitted to practice as
scriveners in the City of London.
Hall:
Scriveners' Hall
Notable Dates:
1373: Incorporation via Royal
CharterWorshipful Company of StationersThe Stationers' Company held a monopoly over the publishing industry in
the City of London, as well as the setting and enforcing of regulations for
that industry. Occupations within the jurisdiction of the Company included
text writer, limners, bookbinders, and booksellers. With the advent of the
printing press, this jurisdiction expanded to include printers.
Halls:
Stationers' Hall
(Milk Street)Stationers' Hall (St. Paul's)Stationers'
Hall (Ave Maria Lane)
Notable Dates:
1403: Incorporation via Royal
Charter