London Livery Company

The City of London Livery Companies began as trade associations or trade guilds, which controlled who could carry out certain jobs in the City of London.

The Companies today

Today the companies act mainly as social and charitable groups, because over the centuries the livery companies have lost most rights to control trade, often as statute law applied the same standards across the whole country. Some support schools which were set up in the 1500s. Others sponsor apprentices in colleges and unversities. Some still have a statutory role. For example the Goldsmiths' Company continue to run the London Assay Office where several million articles of gold, silver and platinum are hallmarked each year.

List of Companies in order of precedence

The order of precedence was first set down in 1515 by the Aldermen of the City of London. Forty-eight livery companies then existed. The list was based on the companies' economic or political power.

The first twelve livery companies are known as the Great Twelve City Livery Companies. There are now 111 livery companies, some very new, so the Order of Precedence is sometimes supplemented.

The Merchant Taylors and the Skinners have always disputed their precedence, so once a year (at Easter) they exchange sixth and seventh place. This is one of the theories for the origin of the phrase "at sixes and sevens", as the master of the Merchant Taylors has said a number of times, although the first use of the phrase may have been before the Taylors and the Skinners decided to alternate their position. Both companies had been founded before the birth of Chaucer, who was one of the first people to use the phrase, so it may have dated from before him.

1. The Worshipful Company of Mercers (General merchants)
2. The Worshipful Company of Grocers
3. The Worshipful Company of Drapers (Wool and cloth merchants)
4. The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers
5. The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
6. The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors (Tailors) (alternates with the Skinners)
7. The Worshipful Company of Skinners (Fur traders) (alternates with the Merchant Taylors)
8. The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
9. The Worshipful Company of Salters
10. The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
11. The Worshipful Company of Vintners (Wine merchants)
12. The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
13. The Worshipful Company of Dyers
14. The Worshipful Company of Brewers
15. The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
16. The Worshipful Company of Pewterers
17. The Worshipful Company of Barbers (Barbers, surgeons, and dentists)
18. The Worshipful Company of Cutlers
19. The Worshipful Company of Bakers
20. The Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers
21. The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers
22. The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers (Armour makers and brass workers)
23. The Worshipful Company of Girdlers (Sword-belt and dress-belt makers)
24. The Worshipful Company of Butchers
25. The Worshipful Company of Saddlers
26. The Worshipful Company of Carpenters
27. The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers (Fine leather workers)
28. The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers
29. The Worshipful Company of Curriers (Tanned leather dressers)
30. The Worshipful Company of Masons
31. The Worshipful Company of Plumbers
32. The Worshipful Company of Innholders
33. The Worshipful Company of Founders (Metalworkers)
34. The Worshipful Company of Poulters
35. The Worshipful Company of Cooks
36. The Worshipful Company of Coopers (Barrel makers)
37. The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers
38. The Worshipful Company of Bowyers (Longbow makers)
39. The Worshipful Company of Fletchers (Arrow makers)
40. The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
41. The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers (Wood craftsmen)
42. The Worshipful Company of Weavers
43. The Worshipful Company of Woolmen
44. The Worshipful Company of Scriveners (Court document writers and notaries public)
45. The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
46. The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers (Plasterers)
47. The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
48. The Worshipful Company of Broderers (Embroiders)
49. The Worshipful Company of Upholders (Upholsterers)
50. The Worshipful Company of Musicians
51. The Worshipful Company of Turners (Lathe operators)
52. The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
53. The Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass
54. The Worshipful Company of Horners
55. The Worshipful Company of Farriers (Horseshoe makers and veterinary surgeons for horses)
56. The Worshipful Company of Paviors (Road and highway pavers)
57. The Worshipful Company of Loriners (Harness makers)
58. The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries (Medical practitioners and pharmacists)
59. The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
60. The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers
61. The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
62. The Worshipful Company of Glovers
63. The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers (Hat makers)
64. The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters
65. The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers
66. The Worshipful Company of Gardeners
67. The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers
68. The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights
69. The Worshipful Company of Distillers
70. The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers (Wooden shoe makers)
71. The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers
72. The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers
73. The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers
74. The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers
75. The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
76. The Worshipful Company of Fanmakers
77. The Worshipful Company of Carmen
78. The Honourable Company of Master Mariners (first of the 20th century companies)
79. The City of London Solicitors' Company
80. The Worshipful Company of Farmers
81. The Honourable Company of Air Pilots
82. The Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders
83. The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
84. The Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers
85. The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
86. The Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
87. The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
88. The Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants
89. The Worshipful Company of Launderers
90. The Worshipful Company of Marketors
91. The Worshipful Company of Actuaries
92. The Worshipful Company of Insurers
93. The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
94. The Worshipful Company of Engineers
95. The Worshipful Company of Fuellers
96. The Worshipful Company of Lightmongers
97. The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners
98. The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects
99. The Worshipful Company of Constructors
100. The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
101. The Worshipful Company of World Traders
102. The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators
103. The Worshipful Company of Firefighters
104. The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers (Taxi drivers)
105. The Worshipful Company of Management Consultants
106. The Worshipful Company of International Bankers
107. The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers
108. The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals
109. The Worshipful Company of Educators
110. The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars
111. The Worshipful Company of Nurses

Two old companies do not intend applying for a grant of the right to wear the special costume or uniform known as a livery.

1. The Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks
2. The Company of Watermen and Lightermen

Two groups intend applying for livery. Both have already been recognised as a "Company without Livery" .

1. The Company of Communicators
2. The Company of Entrepreneurs