Worshipful Company of Haberdashers

The Haberdashers' Company
	Haberdashers' arms: ; Barry nebuly of six Argent and Azure on a Bend Gules a Lion passant guardant Or
Motto	"Serve and Obey"
Location	Haberdashers' Hall,; London EC1
Date of formation	1448; 576 years ago
Company association	Silk and velvet trade
Order of precedence	8th
Master of company	Sir William Russell
Website	haberdashers.co.uk

An 1831 heraldic property mark of the Haberdashers' Company

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies, is an ancient merchant guild of London associated with the silk and velvet trades.

History and functions

The Haberdashers' Company received its first royal charter in 1448 and holds records dating back to 1371. The formal name under which it is incorporated is The Master and Four Wardens of the Fraternity of the Art or Mystery of Haberdashers in the City of London.^[1]

The company was originally responsible for the regulation of silk and velvet merchants then hatmakers,^[2] but began losing control over those trades as the population of London increased and spread outwards from the City after the Industrial Revolution. Through careful stewardship of financial bequests and funds, the company now serves as a significant educational and charitable institution whilst maintaining links with its heritage by giving awards for fashion education.

As an educational foundation, the Haberdashers' Company maintains a strong tradition of supporting schools. It founded a boys' school at Hoxton, Middlesex, in 1690 and following redevelopment of the site, in June 1875, it reopened the school, divided into two, educating boys and girls. At the same time, it opened a boys and girls school at Hatcham in Surrey. The Haberdashers' Hoxton Boys' School moved to Hampstead, North London, and then in 1961 becoming the Haberdashers' Aske's School for Boys, Elstree. The Haberdashers' Girls' School, founded in Hoxton moved to Creffield Road, Acton, opening on 1 November 1889 with 47 Hoxton pupils and 12 new girls, and reopening in September 1974 on its present site in Elstree as Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, adjacent to the Haberdashers' Boys' School. The original Hatcham schools continue to be run by the Haberdashers' Company, as academies, open to girls and boys.

Elsewhere in England and Wales, Haberdashers' schools have been endowed notably by William Jones (Monmouth) and William Adams (Shropshire).

In 1990, at Monmouth School, the Glover Music School was established funded by Dame Jane Glover, sister of Past Master Richard Glover, and daughter of a previous headmaster of the school.

The Haberdashers' Company continues, as required, to present copies of the King James Bible to pupils at all its schools, whilst welcoming those of all faiths and none. The company owns and participates in the patronage of eight parish church advowsons.^[3]

The company is sole trustee of two major educational charities: Haberdashers' Aske's Charity^[4] and the William Jones's Schools Foundation.^[5]

The company ranks eighth in the order of precedence of City livery companies and, as such, it is recognised as one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies. Like other livery companies, it supports the work of the Lord Mayor, the City Corporation and the Sheriffs: Alderman Sir William Russell, Master (2024/25), was the first Lord Mayor of London to serve consecutive terms (2019–21) since the 19th century;^[6] HRH the Duke of Edinburgh currently serves on the Haberdashers' Court of Assistants.

Haberdashers' Hall was situated near the Guildhall in Bassishaw Ward for many centuries, but from 2002 the company took additional premises in the City Ward of Farringdon Without, where it is now based.

The Haberdashers' motto is "Serve and Obey".

Haberdashers' Hall

The Haberdashers' Company moved to its new hall at 18 West Smithfield on 15 April 2002, located opposite the King Henry Gate of St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

On 24 October 2002 Queen Elizabeth II was welcomed by Master Haberdasher Nicholas Lund to formally declare the Hall open.^[7]

Haberdashers' Hall, with its various meeting and function rooms as well as offices, is centred on a cloistered courtyard, entered through the façade at Market View, Smithfield, and also includes residential apartments and retail units. On the south side of the property, the company has developed office space which opens onto Hosier Lane.

Within the Hall, its cloisters to the right-hand side lead via a circular staircase to the first floor where its Court Room, Committee Room and a Luncheon Room lead off a Reception Gallery. The reception gallery leads to the livery hall, which has a high vaulted ceiling and is entirely oak-panelled. There are also offices for company staff, facilities for catering staff with storage and cellars below the Hall, together with accommodation for the Master and the Beadle.

The Clerk to the Haberdashers' Company, since 2020, is Brigadier Angus Watson,^[8] and the Revd Marcus Walker serves as its Honorary Chaplain.^[9]

Haberdashers' arms and Hall foundation stone
Haberdashers' Hall central courtyard
Reception gallery at Haberdashers' Hall
Haberdashers' livery hall & minstrels' gallery

Haberdashers' schools

Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Academy, Telford, Shropshire^[10]
Haberdashers' Adams (formerly Adams') Grammar School, Newport, Shropshire
Haberdashers' Agincourt School, Monmouth^[11]
Haberdashers' Aldersey Church of England (aided) Primary School, Bunbury, Cheshire^[12]
Haberdashers' Borough Academy, London SE1
Haberdashers' Boys' School, Elstree, Hertfordshire
Haberdashers' Girls' School, Elstree, Hertfordshire
Haberdashers' Castle House School, Newport, Shropshire
Haberdashers' Crayford Academy, Crayford, Kent
Haberdashers' Crayford Primary School, Crayford, Kent
Haberdashers' Hatcham College, London SE14
Haberdashers' Hatcham Free School, London SE14
Haberdashers' Hatcham Primary School, London SE14^[13]
Haberdashers' Knights Academy, Downham, Kent
Haberdashers' Knights Primary School, London Borough of Bromley^[14]
Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Boys, Monmouthshire
Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls, Monmouthshire
Haberdashers' Slade Green Primary School, Erith, Kent
Haberdashers' West Monmouth School, Monmouthshire

List of Lord Mayors and Master Haberdasher

1483–84: Sir Robert Billesdon
1532–33: Sir Stephen Peacock
1538–39: Sir William Fermor
1552–53: Sir George Barne
1555–56: Sir William Gerard
1579–80: Sir Nicholas Woodroffe
1582–83: Sir Thomas Blanke
1586–87: Sir George Barne
1587–88: Sir George Bond
1596–97: Sir Henry Billingsley
1600–01: Sir William Ryder
1601–02: Sir John Gerard
1604–05: Sir Thomas Lowe
1620–21: Sir Francis Jones
1627–28: Sir Hugh Hamersley
1631–32: Sir George Whitmore
1632–33: Sir Nicholas Rainton
1637–38: Sir Richard Fenn
1652–53: John Fowke, MP
1664–65: Sir John Lawrence
1688–89: Sir John Chapman
1699–00: Sir Richard Levett
1717–18: Sir William Lewen
1725–26: Sir Francis Forbes
1726–27: Sir John Eyles
1733–34: Sir William Billers
1738–39: Micajah Perry, MP
1794–95: Rt Hon. Thomas Skinner
1875–76: Sir William Cotton
1883–84: Sir Francis Wyatt Truscott^[15]
1891–92: Sir David Evans
1907–08: Sir John Bell
1915–16: Sir Charles Wakefield (later Viscount Wakefield)
1931–32: Sir Maurice Jenks
1956–57: Sir Cullum Welch
1967–68: Sir Gilbert Inglefield
1969–70: Sir Ian Frank Bowater
2019–21: Sir William Russell

Arms of Lord Mayor Russell
Arms of Sir William Russell as Master Haberdasher^[16]

References

^ www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
^ www.boydellandbrewer.com
^ www.churchofengland.org
^ "Haberdashers' Aske's Charity, registered charity no. 313996". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
^ "William Jones's Schools Foundation, registered charity no. 525616". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
^ www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
^ www.royal.uk
^ www.iwm.org.uk
^ www.greatstbarts.com
^ "Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Academy".
^ "Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools – Celebrating 400 Years of Educational Excellence, 1614 – 2014". habsmonmouth.org.
^ Aldersey School Bunbury Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^ www.haaf.org.uk Archived 9 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
^ "www.education.gov.uk". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
^ "The County". The Cornishman. No. 283. 13 December 1883.
^ www.college-of-arms.gov.uk

External links

51°31′05″N 0°06′07″W / 51.51801°N 0.10189°W / 51.51801; -0.10189

[1] www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

[2] www.boydellandbrewer.com

[3] www.churchofengland.org

[4] "Haberdashers' Aske's Charity, registered charity no. 313996". Charity Commission for England and Wales.

[5] "William Jones's Schools Foundation, registered charity no. 525616". Charity Commission for England and Wales.

[6] www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

[7] www.royal.uk

[8] www.iwm.org.uk

[9] www.greatstbarts.com

[10] "Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Academy".

[11] "Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools – Celebrating 400 Years of Educational Excellence, 1614 – 2014". habsmonmouth.org.

[12] Aldersey School Bunbury Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[13] www.haaf.org.uk Archived 9 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine

[14] "www.education.gov.uk". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.

[15] "The County". The Cornishman. No. 283. 13 December 1883.

[16] www.college-of-arms.gov.uk

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v t e Livery companies and guilds in the City of London
Livery companies in order of precedence	Mercers Grocers Drapers Fishmongers Goldsmiths Skinners Merchant Taylors Haberdashers Salters Ironmongers Vintners Clothworkers Dyers Brewers Leathersellers Pewterers Barbers Cutlers Bakers Wax Chandlers Tallow Chandlers Armourers and Brasiers Girdlers Butchers Saddlers Carpenters Cordwainers Painter-Stainers Curriers Masons Plumbers Innholders Founders Poulters Cooks Coopers Tylers and Bricklayers Bowyers Fletchers Blacksmiths Joiners and Ceilers Weavers Woolmen Scriveners Fruiterers Plaisterers Stationers and Newspaper Makers Broderers Upholders Musicians Turners Basketmakers Glaziers and Painters of Glass Horners Farriers Paviors Loriners Apothecaries Shipwrights Spectacle Makers Clockmakers Glovers Feltmakers Framework Knitters Needlemakers Gardeners Tin Plate Workers Wheelwrights Distillers Pattenmakers Glass Sellers Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers Gunmakers Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Makers of Playing Cards Fanmakers Carmen Master Mariners Solicitors Farmers Air Pilots Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders Furniture Makers Scientific Instrument Makers Chartered Surveyors Chartered Accountants Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Builders' Merchants Launderers Marketors Actuaries Insurers Arbitrators Engineers Fuellers Lightmongers Environmental Cleaners Chartered Architects Constructors Information Technologists World Traders Water Conservators Firefighters Hackney Carriage Drivers Management Consultants International Bankers Tax Advisers Security Professionals Educators Arts Scholars Nurses
Companies without livery	Parish Clerks (Worshipful Company of) Watermen and Lightermen (Company of) Public Relations Practitioners Entrepreneurs HR Professionals
Category:Organisations based in the City of London

v t e Haberdashers' Company schools
Original schools	Haberdashers' Adams Monmouth School Haberdashers' Boys' School
Girls' schools	Haberdashers' Girls' School Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls
Colleges	Haberdashers' Hatcham College
Primary and pre-prep schools	Aldersey C of E Primary School Haberdashers' Agincourt School
Academies	Haberdashers' Crayford Academy Haberdashers' Knights Academy Abraham Darby Academy
Affiliated schools	West Monmouth School

v t e City of London
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Enclaves	Inner Temple Middle Temple
Localities	Barbican Blackfriars Broadgate Farringdon Holborn Minories Smithfield Temple
Attractions	20 Fenchurch Street Bank of England Museum Barbican Centre Clockmakers' Museum College of Arms Dr Johnson's House Finsbury Circus Guildhall Art Gallery Leadenhall Market London Mithraeum London Stone Mansion House The Monument Museum of London One New Change Prince Henry's Room Royal Exchange St Paul's Cathedral Smithfield Market
Notable structures	2 Hare Court 2 King's Bench Walk Aldgate Pump Bank of England Bevis Marks Synagogue Golden Boy of Pye Corner Guildhall Heron Tower Holborn Circus Lloyd's building London Stock Exchange Merchant Taylors' Hall National Firefighters Memorial Old Bailey Old Billingsgate Market The Gherkin Tower 42
Civil parishes	List of civil parishes in the City of London
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