View source for Worshipful Company of Haberdashers

{{short description|Livery company of the City of London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2011}}
{{Infobox Livery Company
| name                = The Haberdashers' Company
| image               = Arms of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.svg
| caption             = Haberdashers' arms: <br />''Barry nebuly of six Argent and Azure on a Bend Gules a Lion passant guardant Or''
| motto               = "''Serve and Obey''"
| location            = Haberdashers' Hall,<br />London EC1
| formation           = {{Start date and age|1448|df=yes}}
| association         = [[Silk]] and [[velvet]] [[trade]]
| precedence          = 8th
| master              = [[William Russell (Lord Mayor)|Sir William Russell]]
| clerk               = [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] Angus Watson <small>MBE</small>
| website             = {{URL|haberdashers.co.uk}}
}}
[[File:Brayley(1820) p2.019 - Haberdashers Hall, Maiden Lane.jpg|thumb|140px|Haberdashers' Hall, [[Wood Street, London|Maiden Lane]] in 1820]]
[[File:Haberdashers' Company plaque London.jpg|thumb|An 1831 [[Heraldry|heraldic]] [[House mark|property mark]] of the Haberdashers' Company]]
The '''Worshipful Company of Haberdashers''', one of the [[Great Twelve City Livery Companies]], is an ancient [[guild|merchant guild]] of [[City of London|London]] associated with the [[silk]] and [[velvet]] [[trade]]s.
==History and functions==
The '''Haberdashers' Company''' received its first [[royal charter]] in 1448 and holds records dating back to 1371. The  [[Style (manner of address)|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''.<ref>[https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=220 www.cityoflondon.gov.uk]</ref>
The company was originally responsible for the regulation of [[silk]] and [[velvet]] merchants then [[hatmaker]]s,<ref>[https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781837650804/the-dutch-hatmakers-of-late-medieval-and-tudor-london/ www.boydellandbrewer.com]</ref> but began losing control over those trades as the population of London increased and spread outwards from [[City of London|the City]] after the [[Industrial Revolution]]. Through careful stewardship of financial bequests and funds, the company now serves as a significant [[Charity school|educational]] and [[Charitable organization|charitable institution]] whilst maintaining links with its heritage by giving awards for [[Fashion design|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 [[Japanese School in London|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' Aske's Boys' School|Haberdashers' Boys' School]]. The original Hatcham schools continue to be run by the Haberdashers' Company, as [[Academy (English school)|academies]], open to girls and boys.
Elsewhere in England and Wales, Haberdashers' schools have been endowed notably by [[William Jones (haberdasher)|William Jones]] (Monmouth) and [[William Adams (haberdasher)|William Adams]] (Shropshire).
In 1990, at [[Monmouth School]], the ''Glover Music School'' was established funded by [[Jane Glover|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 [[New King James Version|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 [[patron]]age of eight [[Parish (Church of England)|parish church]] [[advowson]]s.<ref>[https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/Appointment%20of%20clergy%20office%20holders.pdf www.churchofengland.org]</ref>
The company is sole trustee of two major educational charities: [[Robert Aske (merchant)#Charity|Haberdashers' Aske's Charity]]<ref>{{EW charity|313996|Haberdashers' Aske's Charity}}</ref> and the [[William Jones (haberdasher)|William Jones's Schools Foundation]].<ref>{{EW charity|525616|William Jones's Schools Foundation}}</ref>
The company ranks eighth in the [[Livery Companies#Precedence|order of precedence]] of City livery companies and, as such, it is recognised as one of the [[Great Twelve City Livery Companies|Great Twelve Livery Companies]]. Like other livery companies, it supports the work of the [[Lord Mayor of London|Lord Mayor]], the [[City of London Corporation|City Corporation]] and the [[Sheriff of London|Sheriffs]]: [[Alderman]] [[William Russell (Lord Mayor)|Sir William Russell]], [[Master craftsman|Master]] (2024/25), was the first [[Lord Mayor of London]] to serve consecutive terms (2019–21) since the 19th century;<ref>[https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=1202 www.cityoflondon.gov.uk]</ref> [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|HRH the Duke of Edinburgh]] currently serves on the Haberdashers' [[Livery Company#Governance|Court of Assistants]].
Haberdashers' Hall was situated near the [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]] in [[Bassishaw]] [[Wards of the City of London|Ward]] for many centuries, but from 2002 the company took additional premises in the [[City of London|City]] [[Farringdon Without|Ward of Farringdon Without]], where it is now based.
The Haberdashers' [[motto]] is "Serve and Obey".
==Haberdashers' Hall==
[[File:Haberdashers' Hall - front and flag.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Heraldic flag|company banner]] displayed outside Haberdashers' Hall, London EC1]]
The Haberdashers' Company moved to its [[Livery hall|new hall]] at [[Smithfield, London|18 West Smithfield]] on 15 April 2002, located opposite the [[Henry VIII of England|King Henry]] [[Gatehouse|Gate]] of [[St. Bartholomew's Hospital]].
On 24 October 2002 [[Queen of the United Kingdom|Queen]] [[Elizabeth II]] was welcomed by Master Haberdasher Nicholas Lund to formally declare the Hall open.<ref>[https://www.royal.uk/news www.royal.uk]</ref>
Haberdashers' Hall, with its various meeting and function rooms as well as offices, is centred on a [[cloister]]ed [[courtyard]], entered through the façade at [[Smithfield, London|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 [[Long gallery|reception gallery]] leads to the [[Banquet hall|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 craftsman|Master]] and the [[Beadle]].
The [[Clerk]] to the Haberdashers' Company, since 2020, is [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] [[Angus Watson (British Army officer)|Angus Watson]],<ref>[https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060042684 www.iwm.org.uk]</ref> and the [[St Bartholomew-the-Great|Revd Marcus Walker]] serves as its [[Chaplain|Honorary Chaplain]].<ref>[https://www.greatstbarts.com/about/liveries/ www.greatstbarts.com]</ref>
<gallery class="center">
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
</gallery>
==Haberdashers' schools==
*[[Haberdashers' Abraham Darby]] [[Academy (English school)|Academy]], [[Telford]], Shropshire<ref>{{cite web |title=Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Academy|url=https://www.haberdashersabrahamdarby.co.uk/ }}</ref>
* [[Haberdashers' Adams]] (''formerly'' Adams') [[Grammar School]], [[Newport, Shropshire]]
* Haberdashers' Agincourt School, [[Monmouth]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.habsmonmouth.org/|title=Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools – Celebrating 400 Years of Educational Excellence, 1614 – 2014|website=habsmonmouth.org}}</ref>
* Haberdashers' [[Bunbury Aldersey School|Aldersey Church of England (aided) Primary School]], [[Bunbury, Cheshire]]<ref>[http://clc2.uniservity.com/GroupHomepage.asp?GroupID=702658 Aldersey School Bunbury] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720234118/http://clc2.uniservity.com/GroupHomePage.asp?GroupId=702658 |date=20 July 2011}}</ref>
* [[List of schools in the London Borough of Southwark#Secondary schools|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 (England)|Free School]], London SE14
* Haberdashers' Hatcham Primary School, [[London SE14]]<ref>[http://www.haaf.org.uk/hatcham-temple-grove-free-school1 www.haaf.org.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809221034/http://www.haaf.org.uk/hatcham-temple-grove-free-school1 |date=9 August 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Haberdashers' Knights Academy]], [[Downham, London|Downham]], Kent
* Haberdashers' Knights Primary School, [[London Borough of Bromley]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/quickSearchResult.xhtml?page=357|title=www.education.gov.uk|access-date=2 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007000320/http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/quickSearchResult.xhtml?page=357|archive-date=7 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Monmouth School for Boys|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==
{{main|List of Lord Mayors of London}}
{{Div col}}
* 1483–84: Sir Robert Billesdon
* 1532–33: Sir Stephen Peacock
* 1538–39: Sir [[Fermor baronets|William Fermor]]
* 1552–53: Sir [[George Barne II|George Barne]]
* 1555–56: Sir [[William Garrard|William Gerard]]
* 1579–80: Sir [[Nicholas Woodroffe]]
* 1582–83: Sir [[Thomas Blanke]]
* 1586–87: Sir [[George Barne III|George Barne]]
* 1587–88: Sir [[George Bond (mayor)|George Bond]]
* 1596–97: Sir [[Henry Billingsley]]
* 1600–01: Sir [[William Ryder (mayor)|William Ryder]]
* 1601–02: Sir [[John Garrard|John Gerard]]
* 1604–05: Sir [[Thomas Lowe (Lord Mayor)|Thomas Lowe]]
* 1620–21: Sir [[Francis Jones (Lord Mayor)|Francis Jones]]
* 1627–28: Sir [[Hugh Hamersley]]
* 1631–32: Sir [[George Whitmore (Lord Mayor)|George Whitmore]]
* 1632–33: Sir [[Nicholas Rainton]]
* 1637–38: Sir [[Richard Venn|Richard Fenn]]
* 1652–53: [[John Fowke]], MP
* 1664–65: Sir [[John Lawrence (Lord Mayor)|John Lawrence]]
* 1688–89: Sir John Chapman
* 1699–00: Sir [[Richard Levett]]
* 1717–18: Sir [[William Lewen]]
* 1725–26: Sir [[Francis Forbes (disambiguation)|Francis Forbes]]
* 1726–27: Sir [[Sir John Eyles, 2nd Baronet|John Eyles]]
* 1733–34: Sir [[William Billers]]
* 1738–39: [[Micajah Perry]], MP
* 1794–95: [[Skinner baronets|Rt Hon. Thomas Skinner]]
* 1875–76: Sir [[William Cotton (Lord Mayor)|William Cotton]]
* 1883–84: Sir [[Francis Wyatt Truscott]]<ref>{{cite news |title=The County |work=The Cornishman |issue=283 |date=13 December 1883}}</ref>
* 1891–92: Sir David Evans
* 1907–08: Sir [[Sir John Charles Bell, 1st Baronet|John Bell]]
* 1915–16: Sir [[Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield|Charles Wakefield]] (''later'' Viscount Wakefield)
* 1931–32: Sir [[Sir Maurice Jenks, 1st Baronet|Maurice Jenks]]
* 1956–57: Sir [[Sir Cullum Welch, 1st Baronet|Cullum Welch]]
* 1967–68: Sir [[Gilbert Inglefield]]
* 1969–70: Sir [[Ian Frank Bowater]]
* 2019–21: Sir [[William Russell (Lord Mayor)|William Russell]]
{{Div col end}}
<gallery style="text-align:center" widths=140 heights=140>
Arms_of_William_Russell_as_Lord_Mayor_of_London.svg|[[Coat of arms|Arms]] of [[Lord Mayor]] [[William Russell (Lord Mayor)|Russell]]
Coat of arms of Sir William Russell, as Master Haberdasher.svg|Arms of [[William Russell (Lord Mayor)|Sir William Russell]] as [[Master craftsman|Master]] [[Livery company|Haberdasher]]<ref>[https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/resources/impaling-arms-of-office www.college-of-arms.gov.uk]</ref>
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Arte della Seta]]
* [[Haberdashery]]
* [[Smithfield, London]]
* [[Zunft]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.haberdashers.co.uk/ Haberdashers' Company website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071224051731/http://www.heraldicmedia.com/site/info/livery/livcomps/haberdashers.html History of the Haberdashers' Company]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141006155352/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/working-with-and-for-others/Pages/city-livery-companies.aspx www.cityoflondon.gov.uk]
{{Livery Companies in the City of London}}
{{Haberdashers' Company Schools}}
{{City of London wards}}
{{coords|51.51801|-0.10189|display=title}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Worshipful Company of Haberdashers| ]]
[[Category:Livery companies|Haberdashers]]
[[Category:Great Twelve City Livery Companies]]
[[Category:1448 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Charities based in London]]
[[Category:Corporatism]]
[[Category:Companies of medieval England]]
[[Category:History of the textile industry in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Textile industry associations]]