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| Granted 23 December 1586 by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms, to replace an earlier grant of arms and crest (23 October 1481) by Sir Thomas Holme, Clarenceux King of Arms. | ||
History:
The Company's most lucrative activities in medieval times were the making of tents and the padded linen
tunics worn under armour. In due course it became the inspecting authority for the measures used in
selling cloth in the City and at Fairs. It first Charter was granted in 1327. Its curious order
of precedence resulted from a dispute with the Skinners, solved in 1484 by the Lord Mayor who ruled
that one Company should be sixth in one year and the seventh in the next, The two Companies now
dine together regularly. A quarrel with the Goldsmiths in 1267 ended less happily. After a pitched
battle in which many were killed, the leaders were executed. The City historian John Stow, the cartographer
John Speed and Sir Christopher Wren were all members of the Company and Titus Oates a pupil at the
School. The Company still governs Merchant Taylors' School at Northwood, and is interested in Merchant
Taylors' Schools for boys and girls at Crosby, Liverpool, as well as Wolverhampton Grammar School.
Exhibitions and scholarships are awarded at Oxford and Cambridge and other educational establishments supported.
In the Lewisham area are maintained 32 small almshouses, 28 on another neighbouring
site and two blocks of housing
in the form of self-contained flats. Many grants are made to the needy and financial help given to
two London churches. The Livery numbers about 300 but has had no connection with the trade since the
17th century.
The Hall had stood on its present site, acquired in 1331, from some date between 1347 and 1392. It lost the roof and interior in the Great Fire but was restored by Jarman and reopened in 1671. In it James I was splendidly entertained on his arrival in London and it is reputed to be the scene of the first singing of the National Anthem in 1607 under the direction of John Bull. It was again severely damaged in 1940 but the Library, the Court Room and the Great Kitchen (used continuously since 1425) survived. The reconstructed Hall was opened in 1959. In the Hall itself small sections of the clay 14th century floor, of the tile floor of 1646 and of the stone floor of 1675 have been left visible. Other fine rooms are the Drawing Room and the Great Parlour. Precious possessions include two fine funeral palls of 1490 and 1520 and the Account Book goes back to 1397. The architect of the restored Hall was Sir Albert Richardson and its dining capacity is 250.
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