Livery Company

The 106 Livery Companies are trade associations based in the City of London, each 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 Stringmakers) have become inoperative. Most Livery Companies, particular those formed in recent years, are charitable foundations. The active Livery Companies also play an important part in social life and networking in the City of London.

Related Topics:
City of London - Guild - Charitable

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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. As of 2005, there are two new City Companies without Livery (the Tax Advisers and 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.

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