Rachelle Goldberg’s talk on the 23rd October gave a glimpse of the history and pageantry of the City of London and in particular the Livery Companies. Some Livery Companies trace their heritage to the twelfth century. The earliest charter was the Weavers.
People working in the same profession grouped together to regulate competition within their trade and uphold high standards. Livery refers to the special cloaks belonging to a trade. As these Guilds became more established, they set up in large houses or Halls. One of the earliest was the Apothecaries in 1617, destroyed by fire in 1666 and rebuilt in 1672. These Halls were not only meeting places but venues for settling trade disputes.
Rachelle’s own story with the city began in 2014 when she became involved in the Musicians Company. In 2017 she became a Freeman of the City of London and later that year became a Liveryman, and in 2023 elected as a Court Steward.
There are one hundred and eleven Livery Companies. They are all different in size, structure and interests. However, they share the same ethos, supporting charity, fellowship, education as well as a trade.
There is an order of precedence with the Mercers first, the Merchant Taylors sixth, and alternating with the Skinners who are seventh – hence the phrase all at sixes and sevens. The Musicians’ Company is number fifty.
Some livery Companies have apprenticeships, some do research and training. They all provide charitable-giving. There is generous support for the needy and also for the Armed Forces. The Lord Mayor has a Big Curry Lunch in which well over four hundred thousand pounds is raised for helping members of the Armed Forces to get back to work when they have had injury or mental health issues.
The livery companies are integral to the City’s governance: each year liverymen elect the Sheriffs of the City of London, endorse the election of the Lord Mayor and play a prominent part in major events.
In short a Livery company is a guild or professional association which originated in medieval times and now comprises London’s ancient and modern trade associations and guilds most of which are named with “worshipful Company of ” their respective trade craft or profession.
