The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers

www.leathersellers.co.uk

Masters, Prime Wardens and Clerks' Dinner
July 2011, Saddlers' Hall, London

     

Livery  Dinner
May 2011, Armourers' Hall, London

  

Leathersellers’ HaIls, 1444-2011

The Leathersellers began as tradesmen in mediaeval London, dealing in the production and sale of light leather goods and prepared hides which were sold in Leadenhall Market. The earliest reference to the Leathersellers as a distinct fellowship or community is in 1372, when they petitioned the Mayor and Aldermen to stop the dishonest practice of dyers staining sheep’s leather to resemble the more valuable roe leather. They obtained their first Ordinances, or rules of government, in 1398 during the mayoralty of Richard Whittington.

In 1444 the Leathersellers were granted their first Royal Charter, which cost £10. They were the twelfth Livery Company to become incorporated. Soon after this they purchased property in the parish of All Hallows, London Wall, part of which became the Company’s first Hall. Leathersellers are ranked at number 15 in the order of precedence established in 1515. The number of Liveiymen is restricted to 150.

In 1543 the Company made the only move in its long history, from London Wall to its present site just off Bishopsgate. This was facilitated by the Reformation, which brought the St Helen’s estate onto the market following the closure of the Benedictine priory of St Helen, the only convent of nuns situated within the City walls. A Liveryman, John Hasilwood, donated most of the £380 required to purchase the estate.

Links between the Leathersellers and the leather trade have diminished, but never disappeared. The Company still acts as a benefactor and advocate for the leather industry. It founded and continues to support the British School of Leather Technology, now part of the University of Northampton. It is also proud to maintain its long tradition of charitable and educational activities. These are wide-ranging but include supporting almshouses at Barnet and schools in south-east London (Colfe’s and the Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools, a trio of schools in Lewisham under the Prendergast banner).

The Company has re-developed its St Helen’s property several times as buildings have needed replacement or disaster has struck. The third Hall was burnt to the ground in 1819 and the fifth Hall was destroyed by a bomb during the worst night of the London Blitz in 1941. In 2011 works began on another major re-development, which will retain the early 20th century facades but result in a completely new Hall being built at 5-7 St. Helen’s Place. This will become the seventh Hall in the Company’s long history.