Category:London Guilds

United Kingdom heraldry portal

This page is part of the United Kingdom heraldry portal

Heraldry of the World

Civic heraldry: National arms of United Kingdom Arms of Counties Arms of cities and towns Heraldry in England Heraldry in Scotland Heraldry in Wales Heraldry in Northern Ireland Channel Islands Overseas possessions Heraldic literature of United Kingdom Total pages non military heraldry in the United Kingdom section : 8,936 of which images : 6,466 Total pages in the military heraldry of the United Kingdom section : 7,919 of which images : 4,178

Other heraldry: Ecclesiastical heraldry Military heraldry Educational heraldry Institutional heraldry Corporate heraldry Heraldic postcards Heraldic stamps Personal arms

The Livery Companies of the City of London are various historic trade associations almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of..." their relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling, for instance, wages and labour conditions. Until the Protestant Reformation, they were closely associated with religious activities, notably in support of chantry chapels and churches and the observance of ceremonies, notably the mystery plays.

Some of the Livery Companies continue to have a professional role today: for example, the Scriveners' Company admits senior members to that profession, the Apothecaries' Company awards post-graduate qualifications in some medical specialties, and the Hackney Carriage Drivers' Company comprises licensed London taxicab drivers who have learnt the "knowledge of London". Other Companies have become purely charitable foundations, such as the Longbow Makers' Company.

The active Companies, which currently number 110, play an important part in social life and networking in the City and have a long history of cultural and education patronage. They retain voting rights for the City of London Corporation, the local authority with extensive local government powers.

After the Worshipful Company of Carmen was accepted in 1746 no new Companies were formed for over 100 years until the Master Mariners in 1926 (granted livery in 1932). Post-1926 Companies are often called modern Livery Companies.

This section contains the arms of all historical and modern livery companies.