There are 111 City of London Livery Companies, each representing a different profession, trade or craft, both ancient and modern. All the Companies play an active role in promoting their crafts and professions within the City, and collectively give more than £70 million to charity every year.
Livery companies date back to before 1066 and are similar to the ancient guilds that controlled the provision of services and the manufacture/sale of goods within the City of London, protecting members and customers against substandard work.
The original 12 Livery Companies in order of precedence are known as the ‘Great Twelve’, and date back hundreds of years. After World War II, however, there was a realisation by the City that the Livery movement needed new life breathing into it, and the foundation of new Livery Companies was encouraged. The Builders’ Merchants Company is known as one of the ‘Modern Livery Companies’ and ranks number 88 out of the 111. Modern livery companies are generally accepted as starting with Master Mariners, number 78.
All Companies have a trade title but, unlike ourselves, many of them have only a limited connection with the trade they represent, or originally represented. Indeed, some of the trades, such as that of the Fletchers, have more or less disappeared. At the time our Liverymen join the Company, however, they join come either from the builders’ merchants’ industry or their suppliers, and so we are known as a ‘closed’ Company.
All Livery Companies participate in the ceremonial events of the City, but a key function for all Companies is to raise money for charity, much of which comes from members’ own donations.
More information about the City Livery Movement can be found at the Livery Committee website including a comprehensive database of all Companies and Guilds, booking facilities for courses and a calendar for City events.
There are 111 City of London Livery Companies. All have a trade title but, unlike ourselves, many of them have only a slim connection with the trade they represent, or originally represented. Indeed, some of the trades, such as that of the Fletchers or Bowyers, have more or less disappeared. Our Liverymen, however, at the time they join come either from the Builders’ Merchants industry or their suppliers, and we are therefore known as a ‘closed’ Company.
All the Livery Companies participate in the ceremonial of the City, but in every case a key function is to raise money for their charities. In the case of the older and wealthier Companies, such as the Mercers and the Merchant Taylors, these charitable funds are now valued at millions of pounds and include extensive property portfolios and investments.
After World War II, there was a realisation by the City that the Livery movement needed new life breathing into it, and therefore the foundation of new Livery Companies was encouraged. We are, therefore, one of the ‘Modern Livery Companies’, and rank number 88 out of the 111.
No. Only 40 Livery Companies still have their own hall. Many have been lost over the centuries as a result of development works within the City, or were destroyed during World War II.
The WCoBM does not have its own hall, but we are fortunate to have an office in the City in Cutlers’ Hall, which belongs to the Worshipful Company of Cutlers. The advantage of not having our own Hall is that we can hold functions in the wide variety of Halls that do exist within the City, many of which are beautiful buildings containing some fascinating objects.
The Livery Committee is formed of a mixture of City Corporation and Livery members, and exists to facilitate liaison and communication between the Lord Mayor and the City Corporation and Livery Companies. It also organises courses for Liverymen (including courses for Wardens who wish to progress as Master) about how the City Corporation works and the part the Livery Companies play in it.
Each livery company has its own admission procedures, but all admit new Freemen by one of three methods: patrimony (having a parent who is a Liveryman); redemption (by paying a ‘fine’), or servitude (through an apprenticeship). The WCoBM admits Freemen through redemption. You must be invited to become a Liveryman, and must be proposed for membership by two current Liverymen. Membership is only open to members of the builders’ merchant industry.
When invited to become a member of the WCoBM, the first step is to become a Freeman of the Company. Once approved for membership, that person pays a ‘Freedom Fine’ to receive their Freedom and makes a declaration in front of the current Master and Court. Once a Freeman is “clothed” in the Livery, they can potentially be appointed as a Court or Committee member. As a Liveryman, they are also eligible to vote at Common Hall in the Elections of the Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor.
Then, Freemen can apply to obtain the Freedom of the City of London in a separate ceremony, performed at the Guildhall. Once they have received the Freedom of the City, they can apply to become a Liveryman, ie, a full member of the Company.
In 1516, the 48 livery companies that were in existence were ranked in order of precedence based on their wealth. The first 12 Livery Companies are known as the Great Twelve, and they continue to have a huge influence within the City. In the main, there is a productive liaison between the Livery Companies and, as far as possible, we try to work in concert – as, for example, in the recently initiated ‘Pan Livery project’, one of the aims of which is to improve communication among and about Livery Companies. The ‘Great 12’ Livery companies are:
All Liverymen in the City (once they have been Liverymen for a year) are entitled to vote in the elections of the Lord Mayor and of the Sheriffs. In the case of the Lord Mayor, the result is generally a foregone conclusion, but there are occasionally contested elections for the Sheriffs.
