The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers is one of the Great Twelve

livery companies A livery company is a type of guild or professional association that originated in medieval times in London, England. Livery companies comprise London's ancient and modern trade associations and guilds, almost all of which are Style (form of a ...

of the

City of London The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...

, incorporated under a

Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...

in 1463.

History

The Ironmongers, originally known as the Ferroners, were incorporated under a

in 1463. Their company's original association with iron merchants has lessened, especially due to the movement of the industry from Southern England to the North, where

iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...

is more available. It is now primarily a charitable institution. The Worshipful Company ranks tenth in the

order of precedence An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of importance applied to individuals, groups, or organizations. For individuals, it is most often used for diplomats in attendance at very formal occasions. It can also be used in the context of ...

among the City of London's Great Twelve City Livery Companies. Its motto is "God Is Our Strength".

Hall

Ironmongers' Hall is the home of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. It is located in

Aldersgate Street Aldersgate is a Ward of the City of London, England, named after one of the northern gates in the London Wall which once enclosed the City. The Ward of Aldersgate is traditionally divided into Aldersgate Within and Aldersgate Without, the s ...

in the

. The first hall, dating back to 1457, was in Fenchurch Street; it was rebuilt in 1587 and rebuilt again in 1745 on the same site. The third hall was destroyed on 7 July 1917 by a bomb dropped during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. The present Hall stands on land which was bought in 1922: construction work, which was undertaken by

Holland, Hannen & Cubitts Holland, Hannen & Cubitts was a major building firm responsible for many of the great buildings of London. History The company was formed from the fusion of two well-established building houses that had competed throughout the later decades of ...

,Cubitts 1810 - 1975, published 1975 started that year and the Hall was opened on 17 June 1925.

References

External links

* Great Twelve City Livery Companies Corporatism Barbican Estate 1463 establishments in England Charities based in London {{London-stub