The Worshipful Company
of Woolmen
History of London's Livery Companies
History of the Woolmen's
Livery Company
The Company Today
The emphasis of the Company, like most Livery companies, has switched from the historic regulatory role to a charity role, connected primarily with the Wool Industry and the Corporation of London.
The operation of the Company is controlled by its Ordinances that have recently been reviewed to bring them in to line with modern practice. Under our Charter membership, of the Company is limited to 150. Current membership approaches 140 of which approximately one-third are engaged or have been engaged in the Wool and Textile Trades. . In addition there are: -
- Liverymen Emeritus i.e. former members who for various reasons are now unable to take part in any of the Company's affairs and would block the introduction of new members under the 150 limit.
- Some who have only the Freedom of the Company.
- A small number of Freemen Honoris Causa who have been invited to join the Company for special reasons.
Any Liveryman may put forward the name of a suggested new member. However, he or she must be proposed officially and seconded by members of the Court.
The affairs of the Company are administered and directed by the Court of Assistants, comprising the Master, the two Wardens and not more than nineteen Assistants. Masters hold office for one year and remain on the Court of Assistants thereafter. When vacancies arise on the Court, selected Liverymen are invited to join with the understanding that they will progress to become Master. It is the custom of the Company to reserve three places on the Court for Liverymen involved in the Wool Textile Industry. In inviting Liverymen to join the Court, selection takes into account the requirement that they could become Master no later than their 70th year of age at the start of their year in office. The Court has a Finance and Investment General Purposes Committee and a Charity Committee, consisting of members from the Court. The Clerk conducts the day-to-day running of the Company.
The Company does not have its own Hall, but uses a number of Livery Halls for its main Dining Functions