THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BAKERS

	Arms: Gules three Garbs Or on a Chief barry wavy of six Argent and Azure two Anchors of the second cabled Gules over all issuant from a Cloud proper radiated in chief also Or a Cubit Arm descending therefrom vested of the third cuffed Sable the hand proper holding a Balance Gold Crest: [Upon a Helm on a Wreath Or and Gules] Two Arms embowed issuing out of a Cloud proper holding in their hands a Chaplet of Wheat Or Mantling: Gules doubled Argent Supporters: On either side a Buck proper attired Or gorged with a Chaplet of Wheat also Or Motto: Praise God For All
Granted 1536 (probably but patent not extant). Crest and Supporters granted 8 November 1590 by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms; the whole recorded at the Visitation of 1634.

History:
Mentioned in 1155 and received its first Charter in 1486 for bakers of white bread. Bakers of brown bread were incorporated in 1569. Severe penalties were inflicted on inefficient bakers, the control powers lasting until 1805. Nowadays one-third of the Livery of over 350 is connected with the trade. Training is supported by awards at the City and Guilds of London Institution, the Federation of Bakery Students and the National Bakery School at South Bank University.

The original Hall was the converted mansion of John Chichele, a 15th-century Chamberlain of London. It was inherited by his daughter, Elizabeth Chichele, and after her death in 1498, was bought by the Company in 1506. This building was burnt in the Great Fire. The Hall was rebuilt soon after, only to be destroyed by fire again in 1715. The third Hall, built in 1719, was destroyed by enemy action in 1940. The present Hall, completed in 1963, by Trehearne and Norman, Preston and Partners, forms the lower portion of a large office block.

Web site: www.bakers.co.uk

For current contact details please go to The Livery Companies Database, which can be found on The Fishmongers' Company's website.

Last updated 4 January 2005
© Heraldic Media Limited, 2005