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| Arms granted with supporters 1532 by Thomas Benolt, Clarenceux King of Arms; Crest granted (the mantling Gules doubled Argent) 14 October 1562 by William Hervey, Clarenceux King of Arms. Mantling changed at Visitation of 1634. The whole exemplified 8 June 1927 by Norroy King of Arms. | ||
History:
The forerunners of the Grocers were the Pepperers, fined in 1180 as adulterine. They dealt in spices, drugs and tobacco, often coming from Italy and being connected with Italian merchants who had settled in London. They became responsible for inspecting and cleansing or garbling spices and also for regulating the weighing of all heavy imported goods by using the King's Beam, nominating the officers in charge for 350 years. Ordinances were drawn up for the Pepperers in 1345 but by 1373 the Company became known as Grocers or, more properly, Grossers because they dealt in bulk, i.e. were wholesale merchants. They became powerful with their first Charter in 1428 but suffered a loss in 1617 when the Apothecaries broke away, taking the drug business, and were nearly ruined in 1666 when the Great Fire destroyed the Hall and practically all the rentable property. A century of struggle ensued, followed by a return to prosperity. Now the Company supports three schools at Oundle, the public school and two day schools. It has endowed other schools in London and Oxfordshire which have now passed under local authority control. It regularly supports the City and Guilds of London Institute and provides scholarships at a number of schools. The Grocers support a wide range of charitable activities, with particular emphasis on medical work, as well as the Church and the arts. The Livery numbers about 280.
At first the guild had no hall and met in various places including the house of the Abbot of Bury in St Mary Axe, the house of the Abbot of St Croix, Cornet's Tower, Bucklesbury and the house of Lord Fitzwalter in Old Jewry. The first Hall, purchased in 1426, was built on the site of Lord Fitzwalter's town house and opened in 1431. Committees of both Houses of Parliament met in the Hall in 1642 to discuss Charles I's attempt to arrest the five members. Cromwell and Fairfax were entertained here in 1649: 'The musick was only drums and trumpets, the feast very sumptuous, no healths drunk nor any incivility passed'. Fairfax was presented with a basin and ewer in beaten gold and Cromwell with £300 of gold plate and 200 pieces of gold. At the Restoration in 1660 the Company held a feast in celebration and made Charles II the Sovereign Master. They also contributed £540 towards the cost of his coronation. The walls withstood the Great Fire but the roof was destroyed and had to be replaced. The entire Hall was rebuilt in 1668-9 at the expense of Sir John Cutler. It was renovated and enlarged by Sir John Moore in 1682 to make it a fit residence for the Lord Mayor. He himself kept his mayoralty here and It was later used by some of his successors. From 1690-1734 the premises were used by the Bank of England. The third Hall was badly built in 1802 by Thomas Leverton. Repairs had to be made by Joseph Gwilt in 1827 but, despite these, the building was demolished in 1888. The fourth Hall, designed by Henry C Boyes, was opened in 1893. Fire damaged the building in 1965. Extensive restoration, undertaken by Beard, Bennett, Wilkins and Partners, was completed in 1970. The dining capacity of the Hall is 150.
Web site: www.grocershall.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