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, revised as recently as 2014. Under our The City’s Court of Alderman have approved our liveryman membership to 250. Of our current membership, approximately one-third is engaged or has been engaged in the Wool and Textile Trades. 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 Court Assistants. Masters hold office for one year and remain on the Court of Assistants for ten further years before becoming Masters Emeritus. When vacancies arise on the Court, selected Liverymen are invited to join with the understanding that they may progress to become Master. It is the custom of the Company to reserve three places on the Court for Liverymen involved with the Wool Textile Industry. The Court delegates management responsibility to a number of committees who are tasked with running the company on its behalf. In 2021 it passed responsibility for its charitable affairs to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose Trustees run the charity. The Clerk conducts the day-to-day running of the Company. You can find out more about who currently holds office, by clicking the link below.

Many of our company’s records were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666; and others were lost during the Blitz in 1940, so our history is patchy; but much can be gleaned from references in books in the Guildhall Library and other ancient documents.

Like many other Livery Companies, the Woolmen is a committed supporter of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. The Company has important affiliations that include The Queens Own Yeomanry, 131 Commando Squadron 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers and Army Cadet Force 43 Cadet Detachment. Find out more below.