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The 107 'Livery Companies' are trade associations based in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade or profession. The Livery Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling, for instance, wages and labour conditions. Some Livery Companies (for example, the Scriveners) continue to have a regulatory role today, and some (for example, the Longbow Makers) have become inoperative except as charitable foundations. Most Livery Companies, particularly those formed in recent years, are primarily charitable organisations. The active Livery Companies also play an important part in social life and networking in the City of London.
After the Fan Makers were established in 1709 (and later granted Livery in 1809), no new companies were formed for almost 200 years until the Master Mariners in 1926 (Livery in 1932). In recent years, many new professions (such as Solicitors and Chartered Accountants) have established guilds with the aim of being granted Livery, the most recent being the Tax Advisers in 2005. As of 2005, there is one new City Company without Livery (the Security Professionals) and two old bodies which, for historical reasons, are recognised as City Companies without Livery; two further guilds (Educators and Public Relations Practitioners) aim to obtain a grant of Livery.

Contents

Governance

Livery halls

Precedence

List of Livery Companies, in order of precedence

City Companies Without Grant of Livery

Recognised as "City Companies Without Grant of Livery"

Other guilds aiming to obtain a Grant of Livery

See also

External links

Governance

Livery Companies are governed by a Master (known in some Companies as the Prime Warden), a number of Wardens (who may be known as the Upper, Middle, Lower, or Renter Wardens), and a Court of Assistants, which elects the Master and Wardens. The chief executive officer of the Company is known as the Clerk.
Members generally fall into two categories: freemen and liverymen. One may become a freeman, or acquire the "Freedom of the Company", upon fulfilling the Company's criteria; traditionally, one may be admitted by "patrimony" if either parent was a liverymen of the company, by "servitude" if one has served as an apprentice in the trade for the requisite number of years, or by purchase. (The Company may also vote to admit individuals as honorary freemen.) Freemen generally advance to becoming liverymen by a vote of the Court of the Company. Historically, only liverymen could take part in the election of the Lord Mayor of London.

Livery halls

Many companies still have a hall, where members and their guests can be entertained and company business transacted. Among the earliest companies known to have possessed halls were the Merchant Taylors and Goldsmiths in the 14th century, but neither their nor other companies' original halls remain; the few survivors of the Great Fire were destroyed, along with many reconstructed ones, during the Blitz. Today, only 36 companies have halls in London. Companies that do not have their own hall usually borrow one of the other companies' premises for social occasions.

Precedence

In 1515, the Court of Aldermen of the City of London settled an order of precedence for the forty-eight Livery Companies then in existence, which was based on the Companies' economic or political power. However, the Merchant Taylors and the Skinners have always disputed their precedence, so once a year (at Easter) they exchange sixth and seventh place. There are now one hundred and seven Livery Companies, some of recent formation, so the Order of Precedence is sometimes reviewed.
The first 12 Livery Companies are known as the ''Great Twelve''. The Merchant Taylors and Skinners dispute their precedence, and so annually alternate between sixth and seventh place, the change occurring each Easter. This is one of the theories for the origin of the phrase "at sixes and sevens", as the master of the Merchant Taylors has asserted a number of times, although the first use of the phrase may have been before the Taylors and the Skinners decided to alternate their position [1] (However, both companies had been founded before the birth of Chaucer, who was one of the first people to use the phrase, so this may have dated from before him).

List of Livery Companies, in order of precedence

#The Worshipful Company of Mercers ''(General Merchants)''
#The Worshipful Company of Grocers
#The Worshipful Company of Drapers ''(Wool and cloth merchants)''
#The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers
#The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
#The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors ''(Tailors)'' (alternates with the Skinners)
#The Worshipful Company of Skinners ''(Fur Traders)'' (alternates with the Merchant Taylors)
#The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
#The Worshipful Company of Salters
#The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
#The Worshipful Company of Vintners
#The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
#The Worshipful Company of Dyers
#The Worshipful Company of Brewers
#The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
#The Worshipful Company of Pewterers
#The Worshipful Company of Barbers ''(Barbers, Surgeons, and Dentists)''
#The Worshipful Company of Cutlers
#The Worshipful Company of Bakers
#The Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers
#The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers
#The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers ''(Armour Makers and Brass Workers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Girdlers ''(Sword Belt and Dress Belt Makers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Butchers
#The Worshipful Company of Saddlers
#The Worshipful Company of Carpenters
#The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers ''(Fine Leather Workers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers
#The Worshipful Company of Curriers ''(Tanned Leather Dressers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Masons
#The Worshipful Company of Plumbers
#The Worshipful Company of Innholders
#The Worshipful Company of Founders
#The Worshipful Company of Poulters
#The Worshipful Company of Cooks
#The Worshipful Company of Coopers ''(Barrel Makers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers
#The Worshipful Company of Bowyers ''(Longbow Makers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Fletchers ''(Arrow Makers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
#The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers ''(Wood Craftsmen)''
#The Worshipful Company of Weavers
#The Worshipful Company of Woolmen
#The Worshipful Company of Scriveners ''(Court Document Writers and Notaries Public)''
#The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
#The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers ''(Plasterers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
#The Worshipful Company of Broderers ''(Embroiders)''
#The Worshipful Company of Upholders ''(Upholsterers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Musicians
#The Worshipful Company of Turners ''(Lathe Operators)''
#The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
#The Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass
#The Worshipful Company of Horners
#The Worshipful Company of Farriers ''(Horseshoe Makers and Veterinarians for Horses)''
#The Worshipful Company of Paviors ''(Road and Highway Pavers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Loriners ''(Harness Makers)''
#The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries ''(Pharmacists)''
#The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
#The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers
#The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
#The Worshipful Company of Glovers
#The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers ''(Hat Makers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters
#The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers
#The Worshipful Company of Gardeners
#The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers
#The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights
#The Worshipful Company of Distillers
#The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers ''(Wooden Shoe Makers)''
#The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers
#The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers
#The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers
#The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers
#The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
#The Worshipful Company of Fanmakers
#The Worshipful Company of Carmen
#The Honourable Company of Master Mariners
#The City of London Solicitors' Company
#The Worshipful Company of Farmers
#The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
#The Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders
#The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
#The Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers
#The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
#The Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
#The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
#The Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants
#The Worshipful Company of Launderers
#The Worshipful Company of Marketors
#The Worshipful Company of Actuaries
#The Worshipful Company of Insurers
#The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
#The Worshipful Company of Engineers
#The Worshipful Company of Fuellers
#The Worshipful Company of Lightmongers
#The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners
#The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects
#The Worshipful Company of Constructors
#The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
#The Worshipful Company of World Traders
#The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators
#The Worshipful Company of Firefighters
#The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers
#The Worshipful Company of Management Consultants
#The Worshipful Company of International Bankers
#The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers

City Companies Without Grant of Livery

★ The Company of Security Professionals

Recognised as "City Companies Without Grant of Livery"

★ The Company of Parish Clerks

★ The Company of Watermen and Lightermen

Other guilds aiming to obtain a Grant of Livery

★ The Guild of Educators

★ The Guild of Public Relations Practitioners

See also

★ Liveryman

★ UK topics

★ Mottos of the Livery Companies of the City of London

★ Great Twelve City Livery Companies

★ City and Guilds of London Institute

External links

★ Corporation of London: City Livery companies

★ Alphabetical list of Livery Companies