An ancient Livery Company with a modern purpose

The Weavers' Company

"Weave Truth with Trust"

Our History

The first recorded mention of the Weavers’ Company is in the Pipe Roll of 1130 which has an entry of a payment of £16 by Robert Levestan on the Weavers’ behalf, the Pipe Roll being an early form of Tax Record. 25 years later it received its first Royal Charter from King Henry II which was first signed by that “turbulent priest”, Thomas Becket.

Since that time, the history of the Company has been intertwined with that of the City of London and the textile industry, in particular silk weaving. It saw and incorporated the influx of Huguenot refugees in the Seventeenth Century amongst many other societal changes.

900 Years

The Company Today

Today, the Company continues to be actively involved in the City of London and supporting the Textile Industry.

A real focus for the Company is in supporting young people. Firstly, it helps support three Primary Schools within inner City London. This support is both financial and through the provision of a Governor for each school. Secondly, the Company supports the UK Textile Industry by supporting the education and training of people wanting to enter or in the Textile Industry. The Company, with other Livery Companies also run an annual “Making it in Textiles” Conference for final year students who are thinking of joining the industry. The main focus of the Company’s Charitable giving is in the field of Young Offenders. It likes to pump prime projects that support the rehabilitation of offenders or projects that direct young people onto more productive paths away from crime.

Finally, the Company supports London’s elderly and vulnerable through the provision of an Almshouse in Wanstead, called Weavers’ House. This has a total of 38 flats and currently provides sheltered accommodation for 43 residents.

News & Highlights

The winner of the 2021 Weavers’ Company Platinum Award for Textile Art Announced

The winner of the 2021 Weavers’ Company Platinum Award for Textile Art as part of the Koestler Awards is “Sitting Together”. A group of artists at HM Prison Bronzefield made “Sitting Together” whilst living under lockdown, which, for many prisoners and detainees, has meant 23 hours a day locked in-cell.

Life is better than fiction on Ridley Road

Delighted to see an article in yesterday’s Guardian reporting on the success of the Future Hackney Project and Phase 2 of the Project. The Company has supported this project since its inception.

HRH The Prince of Wales

The Worshipful Company of Weavers are delighted that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has accepted the Company’s invitation to become an Honorary Court Assistant.

Wallace Sewell Collection

Discover

Governance

The Worshipful Company of Weavers is constituted by Royal Charter and the present Charter was granted by Queen Anne on the 17th November 1707. The Company is governed by the Upper Bailiff, the Renter Bailiff, two Wardens and a Court of Assistants, supported by a number of specialist committees.

Royal Wessex Yeomanry

The Company’s affiliated Regiment is the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, who are the only Yeomanry Regiment equipped with Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks.

City of London

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.

Image courtesy of Adamantia Tserkezolgou