Livery companies evolved from medieval craft guilds, designed to regulate standards within each specific industry sector. The term livery comes from the badge of office – identifiable gowns given to members of each guild to denote master craftsmen.

1. What Is a Livery
Company?
EDUCATION
Sir Peter
Birkett

2. What Is a Livery Company?
Livery companies evolved from medieval craft
guilds, designed to regulate standards within
each specific industry sector.
The term livery comes from the badge of office
– identifiable gowns given to members of each
guild to denote master craftsmen.
London Livery Companies
London today has 110 livery companies repre-
senting a wide variety of industries and sectors.
Almost all of these are named in the fashion
‘The Worshipful Company of’ followed by the
name of the profession, trade or craft being
represented.
Livery companies comprise a significant part
of London life, not least for the networking
opportunities they create and for their char-
itable giving.
Guild Halls
Many livery companies still maintain a guild
hall for meetings and events, just as the me-
dieval guilds did. However, events such as the
Great Fire of London and the Blitz during World
War Two eradicated many of these halls.
Today, there are 39 livery companies that oper-
ate a guild hall in London. Many of these halls
have historic value and are often elaborate.

3. “
Today, there are 39 livery
companies that operate
a guild hall in London.
Many of these halls have
historic value and are of-
ten elaborate.

4. You can learn about the
Worshipful Company of
Educators by visiting the
blog of Sir Peter Birkett.