The Unique History of London Livery Companies

Livery companies are a wonderful part of London history that still continues to this day. Liveries are later manifestations of the early guild system, where craftsman and traders would organize and agree on certain work and product standards. In pre-Norman times groups and agreements were informal, but as commerce grew and the need to standardize became important, more formal institutions were created.

The benefits of these institutions were for both the craftsman and the citizens. Cooperation and standards meant that low-priced, sub-standard products were not sold to unsuspecting customers. This assures that a quality standard was maintained and that the reputation of the guild stayed intact. It also meant that each person could earn a living wage without fear of being undercut on price.

The first guilds and organizations grew from the very living conditions of the City of London. Craftsman and traders tended to live in close proximity and certain neighborhoods became associated with certain goods and services. There are still reminders of this as one can obviously imagine what goods were sold on Bread Street or Ironmonger Lane, both of which still exist in the City today.

It was in 1155 that the weavers were granted a royal charter by Henry II, formally recognized as The Weavers' Company. This recognition allowed the livery to legally impose rules and standards. If work in a certain industry was found to be wanting, the craftsman could be compelled to bring it up to standard or risk fines, expulsion or being barred from working and selling goods. The livery companies also provided some of the first social welfare by providing for the families of sick workers and providing pensions and taking care of burial fees.

Livery ceremonies are replete with history and pageantry. The leaders and officers wear distinctive dress and regalia and this is thought to be the origin of the term Livery Company. These robes and dress clothes are still part of the ceremonies that go on today. And although many associate livery companies with a bygone age, they are still alive and well in this century. Currently there are 108 livery companies. The latest to gain livery charter is The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals which was recognized in 2008.

The year 1515 is an historic one for livery firms as this is the date The Lord Mayor drew up the list of the Great Twelve. This list was developed to settle disputes and claims of the most prominent liveries. The Lord Mayor created his list based on wealth, however to this day a dispute still reigns. The Merchant Tailor's and Skinners still exchange annually their places at spot six and seven on the list of the Great Twelve.

One of the more visible aspects of London livery companies are their guild halls. In the City there are 38 halls dating from the 17th century with many having survived the Great Fire and the bombings of World War II. The most modern, the Haberdashers Hall was completed in 2002, while the Apothecaries' Hall (located at Black friars) is the oldest. While these are private buildings, there are opportunities to see the interiors. The City of London festival often holds events in many of the halls and some do hold occasion exhibits.

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History and Origins Of The Livery Companies Of The City

Livery companies began as the first guilds of craftsman, smiths and traders. In their earliest incarnation they were simply informal groups of similarly skilled workman who met to discuss and agree on certain points pertaining to their craft. These agreements covered everything from pricing and wages to product standards and trading area. Their mutual cooperation helped assure that each could earn his living without worrying about price cutting or sub-standard goods making their way into circulation, tarnishing the reputation of the group as a whole.

Liveries and other likeminded groups were prevalent all over Europe in pre-Norman days. In the City of London the meetings and get-togethers were natural extensions of these craftsmen living and working in the same close quarters. The reminders of these neighborhoods still exist in current street names like Ironmonger Lane and Bread Street. As these guilds became more formalized, they sought and were granted Royal Charter. The Weavers' Company was granted the first Charter by Henry II in 1155.

These guilds continued to flourish, benefiting members and citizens alike by tightly controlling member trading practices. Those whose work was found to be sub-standard or caught selling goods underweight risked fines or being expelled and forbidden to work in their craft. While this was an exacting practice, the guilds also provided care for members unable to work and provided small pensions and burial services. Guild halls were built for official business, ceremonies and dispute resolution.

The term "livery" was first used in reference to the items a household or official residence needed to supply to employees to live, such as clothing, food, drink and the like. The term eventually became more associated with clothing and distinctive dress. This is how it became linked with guilds; guild members were required to wear unique insignias and robes for ceremonies and functions and came to be known as "livery companies." These distinct robes and clothing insignias are still used today.

At present time there are 108 livery companies. This is a dynamic group and The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals was the most recently chartered livery in 2008. There were 48 livery companies in existence in 1515 and over time some guilds had joined together, whilst other had split. This lead to a number of disputes regarding prominence and importance, so much so that The Lord Mayor settled the matter by establishing an order of preference based on wealth. "The Great Twelve" as the first twelve places are known is also dynamic; a dispute between the Merchant Taylors (tailors) and Skinners (fur traders) resulted in their positions at numbers six and seven to be exchanged annually (some say this is the origin of the phrases "at sixes and sevens").

One of the most beautiful aspects of the City's livery companies is their guild halls. There are 38 in the City of London, dating from the 17th century to the most recent Haberdashers Hall, completed in 2002. Many livery companies offer tours to the public and many also feature exhibitions and events. The City of London Festival takes place in June/July and utilizes some of the halls for events and organizes tours.

Livery Halls make impressive venues for weddings, parties and any type of event. Life's Kitchen specializes in Livery Hall hire and bespoke catering in London.

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What to Know About the Livery Companies of the City of London

Today's 108 livery companies of the City have direct origins to the informal gatherings of early craftsmen and traders. These groups met socially and to come to terms with certain rules and standards within their craft. The agreements set policies for everything from pricing and weights and measures to quality standards and manufacturing processes. The group enforced these policies to ensure the reputation of the guild as a whole against sub-standard products and assure that craftsmen could earn a decent wage without fear of being undercut on price. This improved goods and acted as one of the first consumer protection organizations.

Guilds were certainly not unique to the City of London as tradesmen all over Europe often came together to settle disputes among members. As the guild organization and hierarchy formed, they looked to the Crown for recognition and Charter. The first company granted this privilege was The Weavers' Company in 1155 by Henry II.

The Royal Charter along with solid and exacting business practices of the guilds helped livery companies flourish. Members whose work were of consistently poor quality or found guilty of selling underweight goods were fined. Repeat offenders would be barred from practicing their craft, endangering their very livelihood. On the other hand the guild also provided support for members who could no longer work due to illness or infirmity and often provided for proper burials.

Originally livery was a term that defined the supplies household employees needed to live, such as dress, food and drink. The term eventually morphed to refer only to the specific clothing. The link with the guilds came about as members began wearing and then requiring that certain dress, robes and insignias be worn during ceremonies and affairs. This is how the term "livery companies" came to be applied to the guilds. Insignias and other regalia are still used in ceremonies today.

Of the current livery companies, The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals is the mostly recently charted, joining the list in 2008. The year 1515 looms large in the history of the livery companies. At that time there were 48 companies and there were many disputes on the order of prominence. Some guilds had split while other merged. The Lord Mayor of the time was called upon to establish an official order of prominence, basing the list on wealth. The first twelve liveries are known as "The Great Twelve," however the order is still in dispute even after all these years. The Merchant Taylors (tailors) and Skinners (fur traders) have had a long running dispute that has resulted in their places at spot six and seven be exchanged every year at Easter.

The City's livery companies maintain magnificent guild halls and there are 38 located in the actual City of London. The most recently built, the Haberdashers Hall, was completed in 2002. Many date to the 17th century. Many of the oldest were damaged in the Great Fire of 1666 and in the bombings in WWII. Most livery halls offer occasional public tours and a few hold exhibits and events. Another opportunity to see a livery hall is during the City of London Festival held each summer. The festival uses many of the halls for events and often part of organized architectural and historic tours.

Livery Halls make impressive venues for weddings, parties and indeed any type of event. Life's Kitchen specializes in Livery Hall hire and bespoke catering in London.

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