The History of the Livery Companies

Origins

The livery companies probably had their origins in this country before 1066 and are similar to the fraternities and guilds (or mysteries) that flourished throughout Europe for many centuries. The term "mystery" is still in use and derives from the Latin "misterium" meaning "professional skill". The development of guilds and their continuing existence was not confined to London. Many major cities throughout Britain had craft guilds, some of which still exist, including the Cutlers of Hallamshire in Sheffield, the Merchant Venturers of Bristol, and the Fellmongers of Richmond in Yorkshire. Both Scotland and Ireland have a strong guild tradition which is still very active, while similar guilds also exist in many countries in continental Europe, where Switzerland, France and Germany have particularly strong and active guild organisations. Their present day functions vary considerably but are all based on trade and craft support.

To this day in the City of London names such as Milk Street, Bread Street, Ironmonger Lane, Poultry, Cloth Fair and Mason's Avenue mark the sites where it all began. People following the same craft or trade tended to live and work near each other and they began to make informal arrangements amongst themselves for regulating competition and keeping professional standards high for mutual benefit. The earliest reliable historical record in England is probably the Royal Charter granted to the Weavers' Company in 1155. By this time it is believed that many guilds were already organised and active in the support and regulation of their trade or craft. Members paid to belong and the word guild derives from the Saxon "gildan", meaning "to pay".

To a greater or lesser extent, these early guilds controlled the provision of services and manufacture and selling of goods and food in the City of London. This prevented unlimited competition and helped to keep wages and working conditions steady in extremely unstable times. The guilds protected their customers, employers and employees by checking for inferior work that did not meet their standards, was of bad quality, or underweight. The thirteen loaves of the "Baker's Dozen" originated in these early days of strict regulations. Fines and other penalties for selling bad food or shoddy goods could be severe, culminating in expulsion and so the loss of livelihood. Trade and domestic disputes were settled by arbitration at their Halls, which also served as a meeting place for their trade.

The welfare of their members, both spiritual and material, has always been a major concern for the guilds. Members received help in sickness and in many cases almshouses were established. There was a strong religious connection, with each guild having a Patron Saint, the Patron Saint of the Wheelwrights Company being St. Willigis. There was also a link with a church or monastery, where regular guild services would be held and prayers said for departed members. Funerals were particularly important occasions, attended by all members of the company, when the coffin would be covered by fine cloths, a few of which are preserved to this day. The Fishmongers, Saddlers, Pewterers, Brewers, Girdlers and Merchant Taylors each have a fine example.

In medieval times "livery" was the term used for the clothing, food and drink provided to the officers and retainers of great households, such as those of barons, bishops, colleges or guilds.

The term became restricted to the distinctive clothing and badges which were symbols of privilege and protection. Since the members of each guild were distinguished from other people in this way, the guilds gradually became known as livery companies. It is still the custom to wear ceremonial dress on official occasions.

Apprentice and Freeman

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The usual entry into trade and craft guilds was by apprenticeship. Apprentices would be indentured to serve their master, a member of the guild or livery, normally for a period of seven years, in order to learn their trade. During this time apprentices were often required to live under a strict set of rules within their master's household. At the end of their apprenticeship they claimed their freedom, which entitled them to serve under any master, or set up on their own.

For centuries the privilege of the freedom was eagerly sought by all who wished to prosper in the City of London. Before the nineteenth century it was an essential pre-requisite for everyone who wanted to keep a shop or exercise a trade or craft within the City. The freedom brought the holder many advantages including immunity from tolls at markets and fairs throughout England, freedom from impressment into the armed forces by press gangs and the right to vote at ward and parliamentary elections. In other words, the non-freeman had no trading rights and no voice in the government of the City.

The first sign of a qualification for the freedom occurs between 1175 and 1180 and by 1274-75 there was a register in which the names of apprentices and those who had purchased their freedom were recorded. The records held by the Chamberlain of London are virtually complete from 1681.

The whole municipal structure of London was built on the status of the freeman, and to this day freedom is still a necessary qualification for the holding of civic City office, such as Lord Mayor, Alderman, Sheriff or Common Councilman. The freedom of the City also remains a pre-requisite for admission to the livery of a company.

Organisation and Traditions

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Whilst each guild could organise itself in a slightly different way, using different titles and language, the general structure was common to most. Each was regulated by a governing body, which evolved into the Court, composed of a Master (in some companies, a Prime Warden or Upper Bailiff), usually elected for one or two years at a time, one to four Wardens, from whom the Master would be elected, and a number of Assistants, including Past Masters as permanent members. In addition, each company would have a Clerk to keep the records and organise meetings, and a Beadle who assisted the Clerk, led processions, and acted as a type of constable.

Livery Company Membership

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The members of the company were typically of four classes:-

Apprentices - normally serving a seven year apprenticeship.

Yeomen or Journeymen - craftsmen who had served their apprenticeship but still had to obtain the freedom of the City of London and thus certified to be responsible citizens, before they could work at their trade.

Freemen - those who had obtained the freedom of the City but were not yet full liverymen of their company.

Liverymen - those who had set up in business on their own, were freemen of the City, had been admitted as full members of the company and could eventually become members of the Court.

Today, members of livery companies are in general either liverymen or freemen who have not yet been admitted to the livery of their company. Some companies such as the Wheelwrights also include apprentices, yeomen or journeymen within their membership. Apprentices are normally drawn from the children of existing members who have an interest in the livery, whilst yeomen or journeymen from those who are practising the traditional craft of the company.

Gradually a number of the companies acquired a permanent meeting place, and some of the halls around the time of the Reformation seem to have been the mansions of wealthy citizens, which had been bequeathed to their companies. Many halls have suffered or disappeared through disasters such as the Great Fire and World War II, whilst some were let to the Church or sold when money was short. Many have been rebuilt, but most companies, such as the Wheelwrights, who do not have a hall use other company halls or similar premises.

The importance of the remaining halls lies not only in their architecture and treasures, but also in the pageant of history they reflect. Most of the companies over the centuries received beautifully illustrated grants of arms, charters, letters patent, deeds and ordinances, some of which may be seen in the hall, or in the manuscript section of the Corporation's Guildhall Library.

Most of the ancient companies acquired royal charters and many more than one. The early charters provided royal recognition of the existence of particular guilds, gave them control over their own craft and empowered them to own property. The earliest seem to be those granted around the 12th century. A company today wishing to apply "to Her Majesty in Council for a Charter of Incorporation" must first obtain the approval of the Court of Aldermen.

The Growth, Decline and Rebirth of City Livery Companies

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For many centuries, from Norman times through the Middle Ages, the guilds flourished. Some of their members became very wealthy and their power and prestige helped the City of London to retain a degree of independence from the Crown and the Court. By the early 17th century the guilds had reached the height of their development and wealth. As exploration made the world larger, many of them invested money in setting up the Merchant Venturer Companies, which sought exclusive rights of trade with different parts of the world. The most famous of these was the East India Company whose power lasted until well into the 19th century. There was also the Russia Company, the Africa Company and the Levant Company, whilst the Virginia Company was responsible for much of the early settlement and investment in the State of Virginia.

Decline, however, was imminent. On the whole the guilds' powers were restricted to the City itself. As suburbs sprang up outside the City walls, tradesmen and craftsmen who were not guild members began to practice there, undercutting those who were controlled by City laws and the regulations of the livery companies. The City had opportunities to govern activities in these suburbs, but it took a pivotal decision not to be generally responsible for them. This did not however affect all companies, some of which continue to this day to regulate their trades outside the City.

Another cause of decline was the constant extortion of money from the livery companies by the Tudor and Stuart monarchs. Religious and political upheavals meant incessant war, intrigue and the need for finance, and the Stuarts in particular were adept at calling in companies' charters and selling them new ones for large sums. To this day, many companies operate under charters dating from this period.

When Charles I failed to persuade Parliament to vote him enough money he tried to coerce the City into providing very large sums. This continued until 1640, when the City companies finally refused to aid the King further and so eventually helped Parliament to win the Civil War.

During the 18th century, the Livery suffered hardship. Companies even faced insolvency and had to sell their treasures. The Royal demands of the previous century had impoverished some, fewer people were seeking the freedom of companies. The drift from the City continued, rents were static and rebuilding after the Great Fire of 1666 was costly. Until rentals and other income increased again towards the end of the 18th century, many companies were moribund, some trades moved out of London and some simply ceased to exist.

The 18th and 19th centuries brought the Industrial Revolution, political and religious reform, the extension of the franchise, the development of new trades and the transformation of old ones, social upheaval and the growth of the professional and middle classes. All these put pressure on livery companies to change. There were several assaults on the Livery's privileges and wealth, culminating in a Royal Commission of enquiry in 1880. Its four year investigation vindicated the companies' stewardship of their charitable funds and their role in helping to contribute to "education, social science and human progress" but also recommended reform.

Livery companies realised that the Middle Ages had indeed gone and that, if they were to survive, they would have to embrace the modern world and its "altered circumstances and necessities", as one radical MP put it. This led to many companies renewing contact with their former trades. The wheel had come a full circle.

For most of them the old power and responsibilities had gone, but in harmony with the political climate of the day, they found new ways of contributing to the support of trade and industry and the training of young people to work in them. Starting in the 1870's the Livery began to provide increasing support for technical and other education and this involvement continues to this day.

The efforts were so successful that several moribund companies such as the Paviors and Farriers, had life breathed into them once more. Early in the 20th century the idea of new trades or professions coming together in a new livery company again began to offer advantages, after a lapse of many years. There are currently one hundred and seven Livery Companies within the City of London with a membership of over forty thousand liverymen.

In the course of seven centuries, no institution can enjoy uninterrupted growth or serenity. The livery companies have been no exception. However "conservative" they may have appeared to outsiders, they have proved to have the inner strength and wisdom to renew themselves and adapt to changing times, without losing their essential characteristics - concern for others and the desire to maintain the best of their traditions. They have found strength in diversity, each company having a life of its own, whilst sharing common values of fraternity and fellowship. The Livery has never been - or will be - a "movement" and continues to celebrate its differences as much as it does its common purpose.

Sources:

The Livery Companies of the City of London
Corporation of London

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