The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the

Great Twelve City 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 styled the "Wors ...

, is an ancient

merchant guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

associated with the

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

and

velvet Velvet is a type of woven fabric with a dense, even pile (textile), pile that gives it a distinctive soft feel. Historically, velvet was typically made from silk. Modern velvet can be made from silk, linen, cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, silk ...

trade Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. Traders generally negotiate through a medium of cr ...

History and functions

The Haberdashers' Company received its first

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 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''. The company was originally responsible for the regulation of

and

merchants then hatmakers, but began losing control over those trades as the population of London increased and spread outwards from the City after the

Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution, sometimes divided into the First Industrial Revolution and Second Industrial Revolution, was a transitional period of the global economy toward more widespread, efficient and stable manufacturing processes, succee ...

. Through careful stewardship of financial bequests and funds, the company now serves as a significant

educational Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education also fol ...

and

charitable institution A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...

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 Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, England. It was Historic counties of England, historically in the county of Middlesex until 1889. Hoxton lies north-east of the City of London, is considered to be a part of London's East End ...

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, former county in South East England, now mainly within Greater London. Its boundaries largely followed three rivers: the River Thames, Thames in the south, the River Lea, Le ...

, 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 Hatcham was a manor and later a chapelry in what is now London, England. It largely corresponds to the area around New Cross in the London Borough of Lewisham. The ancient parish of Deptford straddled the counties of Surrey and Kent and ther ...

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

. The Haberdashers' Hoxton Boys' School moved to

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

, North London, and then in 1961 becoming the Haberdashers' Aske's School for Boys,

Elstree Elstree is a large village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, England. It is about northwest of central London on the former A5 road, which follows the course of Watling Street. In 2011, its population was 5,110. It forms part of the ...

. 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 Haberdashers' Girls' School is a Private schools in the United Kingdom, private day school in Elstree, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as "Habs" (or "Habs Girls" to distinguish it from the neighbouring Haberdashers' Boys' School). The sch ...

, adjacent to the

Haberdashers' Boys' School Haberdashers' Boys' School (formerly Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School) is a 4–18 boys Independent school (United Kingdom) in Elstree, Hertfordshire, England. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school was ...

. The original Hatcham schools continue to be run by the Haberdashers' Company, as

academies An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

, 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 Monmouth School was a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school, boarding and day school, day school) for boys in Monmouth, Wales. The school was founded in 1614 with a beques ...

, 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 The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version (AV), is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by ...

to pupils at all its schools, whilst welcoming those of all faiths and none. The company owns and participates in the

patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...

age of eight

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

advowson Advowson () or patronage is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present to the diocesan bishop (or in some cases the ordinary if not the same person) a nominee for appointment to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a ...

s. The company is sole trustee of two major educational charities: Haberdashers' Aske's Charity and the William Jones's Schools Foundation. The company ranks eighth 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 ...

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 Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...

, the

City Corporation Municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. The term can also be used to describe municipally ow ...

and the

Sheriffs A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is commonly ...

Alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law with similar officials existing in the Netherlands (wethouder) and Belgium (schepen). The term may be titular, denotin ...

Sir William Russell,

Master Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

(2024/25), was the first

Lord Mayor of London The Lord Mayor of London is the Mayors in England, mayor of the City of London, England, and the Leader of the council, leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded Order of precedence, precedence over a ...

to serve consecutive terms (2019–21) since the 19th century; HRH the Duke of Edinburgh currently serves on the Haberdashers'

Court of Assistants A court of assistants is a council of members belonging to a professional, trade, craft or livery companies. The term originated among the London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest ci ...

. Haberdashers' Hall was situated near the

Guildhall A guildhall, also known as a guild hall or guild house, is a historical building originally used for tax collecting by municipalities or merchants in Europe, with many surviving today in Great Britain and the Low Countries. These buildings commo ...

Bassishaw Bassishaw is a Wards of the City of London, ward in the City of London. Small, it is bounded by wards: Coleman Street, east; Cheap (ward), Cheap, south; Cripplegate, north; Aldersgate, west. It first consisted of Basinghall Street with the cour ...

Ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

for many centuries, but from 2002 the company took additional premises in the

City A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

Ward of Farringdon Without, where it is now based. The Haberdashers'

motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...

is "Serve and Obey".

Haberdashers' Hall

The Haberdashers' Company moved to its

new hall New Hall may refer to: * New Hall, Fazakerley, a historic complex that was originally a model village, in Liverpool, England * New Hall, Woodford, a 17th-century cottage in Woodford, Greater Manchester, England * New Hall moated site, a scheduled ...

at 18 West Smithfield on 15 April 2002, located opposite the

King Henry King Henry may refer to: * Rulers named Henry; see * King Henry (producer) (born 1989), American record producer and DJ See also * Henry King (disambiguation) {{disambiguation, tndis ...

Gate A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word is derived from Proto-Germanic language, Proto-Germanic ''*gatan'', meaning an opening or passageway. Synonyms include yett (which comes from the same root w ...

St. Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by Ra ...

. On 24 October 2002

Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

was welcomed by Master Haberdasher Nicholas Lund to formally declare the Hall open. Haberdashers' Hall, with its various meeting and function rooms as well as offices, is centred on a

cloister A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary a ...

, 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 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 styled the "Wors ...

, 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

and the

Beadle A beadle, sometimes spelled bedel, is an official who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational or ceremonial duties on the manor. The term has pre- ...

. The

Clerk A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts record keeping as well as general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include Records managem ...

to the Haberdashers' Company, since 2020, is

Brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

Angus Watson, and the Revd Marcus Walker serves as its Honorary Chaplain. File:Haberdashers' Hall - coat of arms and foundation stone.jpg, Haberdashers' arms and Hall foundation stone File:Haberdashers' Hall - courtyard viewed from 1st floor.jpg, Haberdashers' Hall central courtyard File:Haberdashers' Hall - Reception Gallery.jpg, Reception gallery at Haberdashers' Hall File:Haberdashers' Hall - Livery Hall.jpg, Haberdashers' livery hall & minstrels' gallery

Haberdashers' schools

* Haberdashers' Abraham Darby

Academy An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

Telford Telford () is a town in the Telford and Wrekin borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Shropshire, England. The wider borough covers the town, its suburbs and surrounding towns and villages. The town is close to the county's eastern b ...

, Shropshire *

Haberdashers' Adams Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is a selective state grammar school for high-achieving boys and girls aged 11–18 with boarding for boys, located in Newport, Shropshire, offering day and boarding education. As of 2024, boarding fees are £14, ...

(''formerly'' Adams')

Grammar School A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a Latin school, school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented Se ...

Newport, Shropshire Newport is a market town and Civil parishes in Shropshire, civil parish in the borough of Telford and Wrekin in Shropshire, England. It lies north-east of Telford, west of Stafford, and is near the Shropshire-Staffordshire border. The 2001 Ce ...

* Haberdashers' Agincourt School,

Monmouth Monmouth ( or ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated on where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. The population in the 2011 census was 10,508, rising from 8 ...

* Haberdashers' Aldersey Church of England (aided) Primary School,

Bunbury, Cheshire Bunbury is a village in Cheshire, England, south of Tarporley and north west of Nantwich on the Shropshire Union Canal. At the 2011 Census, it had a population of 1,195. History Bunbury was reputedly derived from Buna-burh, meaning the "red ...

* Haberdashers' Borough Academy, London SE1 *

, Hertfordshire *

Haberdashers' Girls' School Haberdashers' Girls' School is a private day school in Elstree, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as "Habs" (or "Habs Girls" to distinguish it from the neighbouring Haberdashers' Boys' School). The school was founded in 1875 by the Worshipf ...

, Hertfordshire * Haberdashers'

Castle House School Haberdashers' Castle House is an independent Preparatory school (UK), preparatory day school for boys and girls, first established in 1944, at Chetwynd End, Newport, Shropshire.

, Newport, Shropshire * Haberdashers' Crayford Academy,

Crayford Crayford is a town and Wards of the United Kingdom, electoral ward in South London, South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bexley. It lies east of Bexleyheath and north west of Dartford. Crayford was in the Historic countie ...

, Kent * Haberdashers' Crayford Primary School,

, Kent *

Haberdashers' Hatcham College Haberdashers' Hatcham College (formerly Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College) is a state secondary school with academy status and a music specialism in New Cross, south-east London. The school was formerly a grammar school, then a comprehensi ...

, London SE14 * Haberdashers' Hatcham Free School, London SE14 * Haberdashers' Hatcham Primary School, London SE14 *

Haberdashers' Knights Academy Haberdashers' Knights Academy (formerly Malory School and then Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy) is a secondary school with academy status located in the Downham area of the London Borough of Lewisham Lewisham ( ) is a London borough ...

Downham Downham may refer to: Places ;in England * Downham, Cambridgeshire, a civil parish **Little Downham *Downham, Essex *Downham, Lancashire *Downham, London, a district of south east London **Downham Estate, housing estate in Downham, London *Downham, ...

, Kent * Haberdashers' Knights Primary School,

London Borough of Bromley The London Borough of Bromley () is a London Borough, borough in London, England. It is the largest and southeasternmost borough in London, and borders the county of Kent, of which it formed part until 1965. The borough's population in the 2021 ...

* Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Boys, Monmouthshire *

Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls was a boarding and day private school in Monmouth, Wales. Established by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1892, in June 2022 the Haberdashers began a consultation on proposals to merge the school ...

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...

* Haberdashers'

Slade Green Slade Green is an area of South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bexley. It lies northeast of Bexleyheath, northwest of Dartford and south of Erith, and east-southeast of Charing Cross. Historically Slade Green was part of th ...

Primary School A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

Erith Erith () is an area in south-east London, England, east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater London in 1965, it was in the historical county of Kent. Since 1965 it has formed part of the London Borough of Bexley. It lies north ...

, Kent * Haberdashers'

West Monmouth School West Monmouth School (Welsh: ''Ysgol Gorllewin Mynwy''; colloquially: West Mon) is a state-funded and non-selective secondary school in Pontypool, Torfaen, south Wales. Admissions Pupils who attend the school generally live in the Torfaen area. ...

, Monmouthshire

List of Lord Mayors and Master Haberdasher

* 1483–84: Sir Robert Billesdon * 1532–33: Sir Stephen Peacock * 1538–39: Sir

William Fermor Count William Fermor (/''Villim Villimovich Fermor'') was an Imperial Russian Army officer best known for leading his country’s army at the Battle of Zorndorf during the Seven Years’ War. His name is sometimes styled Wilhelm Graf von Fermo ...

* 1552–53: Sir George Barne * 1555–56: Sir

William Gerard Sir William Gerard (1518–1581) was an Elizabethan statesman, who had a distinguished record of government service in England, Wales and most notably in Ireland. He sat in the House of Commons for Chester for many years, and was Vice-President ...

* 1579–80: Sir

Nicholas Woodroffe Sir Nicholas Woodroffe (Woodruff, Woodrofe, etc.) (1530–1598) was a London merchant of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, who, through the English Reformation, rose in the Alderman class to become a Master Haberdasher, Lord Mayor of Londo ...

* 1582–83: Sir Thomas Blanke * 1586–87: Sir George Barne * 1587–88: Sir George Bond * 1596–97: Sir

Henry Billingsley Sir Henry Billingsley ( – 22 November 1606) was an English scholar and translator, merchant, chief Customs officer for the Port of London in the high age of late Elizabethan piracy, and moneylender, several times Master of the Worshipful Compa ...

* 1600–01: Sir William Ryder * 1601–02: Sir

John Gerard John Gerard (also John Gerarde, 1545–1612) was an English herbalist with a large garden in Holborn, now part of London. His 1,484-page illustrated ''Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes'', first published in 1597, became a popular garde ...

* 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 Sir Richard Levett (1629 – 20 January 1711) was an English merchant and politician who was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1699. Born in Ashwell, Rutland, he moved to London and established a pioneering mercantile career, becoming involved w ...

* 1717–18: Sir William Lewen * 1725–26: Sir

Francis Forbes Sir Francis William Forbes (1784 – 8 November 1841) was a Chief Justice of Newfoundland, and the first Chief Justice of New South Wales. Early life Forbes was born and educated in Bermuda, the son of Dr. Francis Forbes M.D. and his wife Mar ...

* 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 Sir Francis Wyatt Truscott (24 November 1824 – 3 March 1895) was Lord Mayor of London in 1879–80, a member of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, Worshipful Company of Stationers and the father of Sir George Wyatt Trus ...

* 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 Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom), Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ian Frank Bowater (16 December 1904 – 1 October 1982) served as Lord Mayor of London from 1969 to 1970. Career The youngest son of Sir Frank Bowater, 1st Baronet (Lord Mayor from 1938 ...

* 2019–21: Sir William Russell Arms_of_William_Russell_as_Lord_Mayor_of_London.svg,

Arms Arms or ARMS may refer to: *Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons **Fi ...

Russell Coat of arms of Sir William Russell, as Master Haberdasher.svg, Arms of Sir William Russell as

Haberdasher __NOTOC__ In British English, a haberdasher is a business or person who sells small articles for sewing, dressmaking and knitting, such as buttons, ribbons, and zippers; in the United States, the term refers instead to a men's clothing st ...

www.college-of-arms.gov.uk
/ref>

References

External links

Haberdashers' Company website

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
{{authority control

Haberdashers __NOTOC__ In British English, a haberdasher is a business or person who sells small articles for sewing, dressmaking and knitting, such as buttons, ribbons, and zippers; in the United States, the term refers instead to a men's clothing stor ...

Great Twelve City Livery Companies 1448 establishments in England Charities based in London Corporatism Companies of medieval England History of the textile industry in the United Kingdom Textile industry associations