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

Making it in Textiles Conference – 2022

After 2 years The Making It In Textiles Conference will again take place in Bradford from 18th to 19th October 2022. We will be in touch with Colleges in March 2022, details will also be published on the Weavers’ Company website.

Richard Humphries Wins Root and Branch Award

The Root and Branch Award panel have awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Humphries MBE, a Liveryman and Past Upper Bailiff of the Weavers’ Company, for his support over his thirty-five years’ Livery membership, in engaging with the craft, training the next generation, charitable efforts, and ensuring the Livery movement’s relevance to the industry today

Becket Pageant

The Company were delighted to be able to support the Becket Pageant over the weekend of 24/25 June 2022. Thomas Becket attested the first Weavers’ Company Charter in 1155 so we really had to be there.

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