THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BUTCHERS

	Arms: Azure two Poleaxes in saltire Or blades inwards between two Bulls' Heads couped in fesse Argent on a Chief of the last a Boar's Head couped Gules tusked of the second langued of the first between two bunches of Knee-Holly Vert banded Gold Crest: [Upon a Helm on a Wreath of the Colours] A Bull Statant Or with wings addorsed lined Argent the head forequarters hoofs and tuft of the tail of the first the hindquarters of the second armed Gules about the head a Nimbus Gold Mantling: Gules doubled Argent Supporters: On either side a Bull with wings addorsed the head forequarters wings hoofs and tuft of the tail Or the hindquarters Argent armed Gules about the head a Nimbus of the first Motto: Omnia Subiecisti Sub Pedibus Oves Et Boves
Arms and Crest granted 7 February 1541 by Thomas Hawley, Clarenceux King of Arms; Supporters granted 28 June 1922.

History:
An adulterine guild was mentioned in 1179. Ordinances for a limited area were issued in 1331 and general Ordinances in 1423. The first Charter came in 1605. The present Livery of about 500 has many connections with the trade. Charities cover necessitous freemen and dependents.

The first Hall in Monkwell Street dated from the second half of the 15th century. The next Hall near St Bartholomew's Hospital was destroyed in 1666. Its successor in Pudding Lane (1667-77) was again burnt, rebuilt in 1829-30 and compulsorily purchased in 1882. The following Hall (1884-5) in Bartholomew Close was bombed in 1915, again in 1944 and rebuilt in 1960, seating 128.

Web site: www.butchershall.com

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