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

New Cloak for the High Sheriff of Greater London

The very first official ceremonial garment for High Sheriffs of Greater London has been designed and created in collaboration with London College of Fashion, Making for Change and Fine Cell Work. It will be worn for the first time by the new Lady High Sheriff of Greater London, Heather Phillips. This project was supported by a number of Livery Companies including the Weavers’ Company.

The Experimental Weave Lab

The Experimental Weave Lab, is the City of London’s first contemporary, innovative, experimental textile weaving season and is running until September 2022 in St Olave Parish Hall, London EC3R 7LQ. This is being curated by Philippa Brock (a member of the Company and the Textile Committee) and Elizabeth Ashdown.

Heathcoat Fabrics Receive a Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Tiverton-based textile manufacturer Heathcoat Fabrics has been recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation. The company developed a high performance parachute fabric that has contributed to outstanding commercial success, including delivery of NASA’s Perseverance Rover onto the surface of Mars in February 2021.

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