Worshipful Company of Upholders
Encyclopedia
The Worshipful Company of Upholders is one of the Livery Companies
of the City of London
. "Upholder" is an archaic word for "Upholsterer". In past times upholders carried out not just the manufacture and sale of upholstered goods but were cabinet makers, undertakers, soft furnishers, auctioneers and valuers; the organisation was formed on 1 March 1360 and officially incorporated by a Royal Charter
granted by Charles I
in the year 1626 AD. The Company originally had the right to set standards for upholstery
within London, and to search, seize, and destroy defective upholstery. However, over the years, the Company's power has eroded, as has the profession of upholsterers, because of the advancement of technology.
The Livery's Purpose today is:
To Uphold the livery of the Upholders, ensuring it continues to flourish. Upholding the craft of the Upholder and through charitable giving uphold individuals and organisations connected with our trade and Livery.
In support of the Upholstery and Soft Furnishing Trade the Livery provides prizes and bursaries to students studying these crafts. It gives Merit Awards to companies achieveing the highest standards of craftmanship and Master Craftsman awards to individuals. Working closely with the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers it is developing a "Centres of Excellence" scheme for colleges and other organisations to ensure the skills of traditional upholstery are taught and passed on to professionals and enthusiasts. The Livery provides a small number of pensions to pensioners in special need who have worked in the trade.
The Livery and Liverymen are actively involved in many organisations and charities in the City of London including Castle Baynard Ward Club, as the site of the Company's Hall, until the Great Fire in 1666 is in the Ward.
The Company is the forty-ninth in the order of precedence
for Livery Companies. Its motto is Sustine Bona, Latin
for Uphold the Good.
Further information on the Livery can be found on their web site www.upholders.co.uk and in its history "Feather Bedds and Flock Bedds" by John Houston.
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...
. "Upholder" is an archaic word for "Upholsterer". In past times upholders carried out not just the manufacture and sale of upholstered goods but were cabinet makers, undertakers, soft furnishers, auctioneers and valuers; the organisation was formed on 1 March 1360 and officially incorporated by 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...
granted by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in the year 1626 AD. The Company originally had the right to set standards for upholstery
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
within London, and to search, seize, and destroy defective upholstery. However, over the years, the Company's power has eroded, as has the profession of upholsterers, because of the advancement of technology.
The Livery's Purpose today is:
To Uphold the livery of the Upholders, ensuring it continues to flourish. Upholding the craft of the Upholder and through charitable giving uphold individuals and organisations connected with our trade and Livery.
In support of the Upholstery and Soft Furnishing Trade the Livery provides prizes and bursaries to students studying these crafts. It gives Merit Awards to companies achieveing the highest standards of craftmanship and Master Craftsman awards to individuals. Working closely with the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers it is developing a "Centres of Excellence" scheme for colleges and other organisations to ensure the skills of traditional upholstery are taught and passed on to professionals and enthusiasts. The Livery provides a small number of pensions to pensioners in special need who have worked in the trade.
The Livery and Liverymen are actively involved in many organisations and charities in the City of London including Castle Baynard Ward Club, as the site of the Company's Hall, until the Great Fire in 1666 is in the Ward.
The Company is the forty-ninth 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 Sustine Bona, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for Uphold the Good.
Further information on the Livery can be found on their web site www.upholders.co.uk and in its history "Feather Bedds and Flock Bedds" by John Houston.