Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
Encyclopedia
The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers is one of the Livery Companies
of the City of London
. The organisation originated in the latter part of the fourteenth century and received a Royal Charter
in 1444. The Company, which originally regulated leather merchants, continues to act as an advocate for the UK leather trade, though it is now primarily a philanthropic organisation active in many charitable and educational fields.
The Leathersellers' Company ranks fifteenth in the order of precedence
of Livery Companies. The Company's motto is Soli Deo Honor et Gloria, Latin for Honour and Glory to God Alone.
The Company is very closely linked with the Leathersellers' Federation of Schools (formerly Prendergast School
), now comprising Prendergast Hilly Fields College, Prendergast Ladywell Fields College and Prendergast Vale College, all located in the London Borough of Lewisham. Since the mid-seventeenth century the Company has also been closely linked with Colfe's School
, today an independent co-educational school located in Lee, near Lewisham
, London
. In addition the Company supports and maintains its longstanding connection with the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies (now a part of the University of Northampton
), the successor of the College which the Company founded in Bermondsey
in 1909 as Leathersellers' Technical College. The Company continues to support higher education through exhibitions (grants) to university students, a practice which began in 1603 when four 'poor scholars', two at Oxford and two at Cambridge, were awarded five guineas each per annum. Today around 100 students receive exhibitions which enable them to study at various universities.
The Company is affiliated with the Royal Navy's submarine HMS Tireless
and with 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
. Like many other Livery Companies, it has a long tradition of maintaining almshouses, and since 1837 has done so at Barnet
in north London.
The Company has had six Halls since its foundation, and is currently in temporary accommodation in Garlick Hill while its seventh Hall is being constructed. The first was on London Wall
but in 1543 the Company acquired the former Benedictine
convent of St Helen, off Bishopsgate
, and the subsequent Halls have all been on that site, now called St Helen's Place. The fifth Hall was destroyed in May 1941 during the London blitz. The sixth Hall was officially opened in 1960 and was demolished in 2011, though the facade of the building has been retained. A new, seventh Hall is being built in St Helen's Place to designs by Eric Parry R.A. and is expected to be completed by 2015.
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...
. The organisation originated in the latter part of the fourteenth century and received 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...
in 1444. The Company, which originally regulated leather merchants, continues to act as an advocate for the UK leather trade, though it is now primarily a philanthropic organisation active in many charitable and educational fields.
The Leathersellers' Company ranks fifteenth 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...
of Livery Companies. The Company's motto is Soli Deo Honor et Gloria, Latin for Honour and Glory to God Alone.
The Company is very closely linked with the Leathersellers' Federation of Schools (formerly Prendergast School
Prendergast School
Prendergast Hilly Fields College is a Comprehensive girls' secondary school, located on Hilly Fields, Brockley, in the London Borough of Lewisham. It has an independent board of governors. It was awarded specialist status in Music and Languages, and has recently received further such status in...
), now comprising Prendergast Hilly Fields College, Prendergast Ladywell Fields College and Prendergast Vale College, all located in the London Borough of Lewisham. Since the mid-seventeenth century the Company has also been closely linked with Colfe's School
Colfe's School
Colfe's is a co-educational independent day school in Horn Park in the London Borough of Greenwich. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The official Visitor to the school is HRH Prince Michael of Kent.-History:...
, today an independent co-educational school located in Lee, near Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In addition the Company supports and maintains its longstanding connection with the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies (now a part of the University of Northampton
University of Northampton
The University of Northampton is a university in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.-History:In 1924, Northampton Technical College was opened at St George's Avenue, site of the current Avenue Campus. A new building for the college was formally opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932...
), the successor of the College which the Company founded in Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
in 1909 as Leathersellers' Technical College. The Company continues to support higher education through exhibitions (grants) to university students, a practice which began in 1603 when four 'poor scholars', two at Oxford and two at Cambridge, were awarded five guineas each per annum. Today around 100 students receive exhibitions which enable them to study at various universities.
The Company is affiliated with the Royal Navy's submarine HMS Tireless
HMS Tireless
Two submarines of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Tireless:* Tireless was a Taciturn- or T-class submarine that served during the Cold War* Tireless is a Trafalgar-class submarine currently in service as of 2007....
and with 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
. Like many other Livery Companies, it has a long tradition of maintaining almshouses, and since 1837 has done so at Barnet
Barnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
in north London.
The Company has had six Halls since its foundation, and is currently in temporary accommodation in Garlick Hill while its seventh Hall is being constructed. The first was on London Wall
London Wall
London Wall was the defensive wall first built by the Romans around Londinium, their strategically important port town on the River Thames in what is now the United Kingdom, and subsequently maintained until the 18th century. It is now the name of a road in the City of London running along part of...
but in 1543 the Company acquired the former Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
convent of St Helen, off Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate is a road and ward in the northeast part of the City of London, extending north from Gracechurch Street to Norton Folgate. It is named after one of the original seven gates in London Wall...
, and the subsequent Halls have all been on that site, now called St Helen's Place. The fifth Hall was destroyed in May 1941 during the London blitz. The sixth Hall was officially opened in 1960 and was demolished in 2011, though the facade of the building has been retained. A new, seventh Hall is being built in St Helen's Place to designs by Eric Parry R.A. and is expected to be completed by 2015.