Worshipful Company of Carmen
Encyclopedia
The Worshipful Company of Carmen is one of the Livery Companies
of the City of London
. Carmen, or drivers of carts, caused upset in 1481. The King conscripted carts to carry his wine allowing rural carters to force food prices up. By offering to provide the King's carriage and clean the streets the Fellowship of Carmen was established in 1517 with authority to control the cartage trade. The Fellowship of Carmen was born in 1517. After linking up with organised into a fraternity in 1517. However, this was contested by the Woodmongers' Company, who owned more carts. The Carmen turned to Christ's Hospital
, who were short of cash at the time. However by 1597 the Carmen had fallen out with Christ's Hospital, and the Woodmongers asserted their control again, and absorbed the Carmen in 1605.. However alongside other rearrangements in the haulage trade, the Carmen separated and formed their own fellowship in 1668, but were unsuccessful in gaining the power to regulate carmen, until the Woodmongers became defunct in 1746. The Carmen did not acquire a Royal Charter
until 1946.
Now that carts have been rendered obsolete by cars, the Carmen remain as a charitable and ceremonial institution with over 460 Liverymen, 170 Freemen plus additional apprentices. The Carmen participate in the ceremony of Cart Marking, which originated in the rule that no cart could ply for hire unless licensed by the Carmen. Presently, the ceremony involves cars, rather than carts, and involves those who wish to voluntarily take part, regardless of whether they wish to ply for hire or not.
The Carmen's Company ranks seventy-seventh in the order of precedence
for Livery Companies. Its motto is Scite, Cite, Certo, Latin for Skilfully, Swiftly, Surely.
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. Carmen, or drivers of carts, caused upset in 1481. The King conscripted carts to carry his wine allowing rural carters to force food prices up. By offering to provide the King's carriage and clean the streets the Fellowship of Carmen was established in 1517 with authority to control the cartage trade. The Fellowship of Carmen was born in 1517. After linking up with organised into a fraternity in 1517. However, this was contested by the Woodmongers' Company, who owned more carts. The Carmen turned to Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, who were short of cash at the time. However by 1597 the Carmen had fallen out with Christ's Hospital, and the Woodmongers asserted their control again, and absorbed the Carmen in 1605.. However alongside other rearrangements in the haulage trade, the Carmen separated and formed their own fellowship in 1668, but were unsuccessful in gaining the power to regulate carmen, until the Woodmongers became defunct in 1746. The Carmen did not acquire a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
until 1946.
Now that carts have been rendered obsolete by cars, the Carmen remain as a charitable and ceremonial institution with over 460 Liverymen, 170 Freemen plus additional apprentices. The Carmen participate in the ceremony of Cart Marking, which originated in the rule that no cart could ply for hire unless licensed by the Carmen. Presently, the ceremony involves cars, rather than carts, and involves those who wish to voluntarily take part, regardless of whether they wish to ply for hire or not.
The Carmen's Company ranks seventy-seventh in the order of precedence
Order of precedence
An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of items. Most often it is used in the context of people by many organizations and governments...
for Livery Companies. Its motto is Scite, Cite, Certo, Latin for Skilfully, Swiftly, Surely.