City of London
OVERVIEW
In the mediaeval period the City of London constituted most of London, but the conurbation has grown far beyond it. As the City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, it is now only a tiny part of the metropolis, though it remains a notable part of central London, holds city status in its own right, and is a separate ceremonial county. It is often referred to as ‘the City’ or the ‘Square Mile’, as it is just over one square mile in area. These terms are also often used to describe the UK's financial services industry, which continues a notable history of being based in the City. The local authority for the City, the City of London Corporation, is unique in the United Kingdom, and has some unusual responsibilities for a local authority in Britain, such as being the police authority for the City. It also has responsibilities and ownerships beyond the City's boundaries. The Corporation is headed by the Lord Mayor of the City of London.
The City is today a major business and financial centre, ranking alongside New York City as the leading centre of global finance; throughout the 19th century, the City served as the world's primary business centre, and continues to be a major meeting point for businesses to this day. The City has a resident population of a little over 11,000, but around 316,700 people work there, mainly in the financial services sector. The legal profession forms a major component of the western side of the City. 108 Livery Companies maintain the City's history and traditions in their respective crafts, trades and professions. There are 40 Livery Halls within the City’s Roman boundary.
Role of the Livery Companies of the City of London
The livery companies developed out of the medieval guilds in the City of London. These guilds originally evolved from a religious base, as craftsmen in various specific trades congregated in parishes in the City. From their congregations voluntary associations were formed for mutual aid and protection of their members.
Gradually, trade considerations assumed a more important role with the guild's main role being the regulation of their trades or crafts within the City. They exercised control over standards, including the power of search, and the training of apprentices.
Members of the Livery, Liverymen, were and still are drawn from the freemen of the City and became freemen of the Companies, qualifying by patrimony (inheritance), servitude (apprenticeship), or redemption (purchase).
Management of the City of London was based on a charter granted to its citizens by King William I that provided it with a remarkable degree of autonomy. The City then won from King John the right to vote for their Mayor. Civic power originally rested with the Court of Aldermen who administered justice in matters of dispute within the City, regulated the Livery Companies and settled all inter-livery disputes. Liverymen elected the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs as they still do to this day.
The Livery Committee
The Livery Committee is the body set up to consider matters of interest to the City of London, the Livery Companies and Mansion House. The Committee is made up of Aldermen, Common Councilmen, Livery Clerks and Liverymen. Further information can be found via the information button below that will link to the Livery Committee's extensive website:
INFORMATION
Also, in his role as Chairman of the Livery Committee, Nigel created a web site, designed to be a central source of information relevant and of use to all liverymen and their clerks, with a reasonably simple and intuitive domain http://www.liverycompanies.info which aims to be the gateway into all livery related on-line information.
The City is today a major business and financial centre, ranking alongside New York City as the leading centre of global finance; throughout the 19th century, the City served as the world's primary business centre, and continues to be a major meeting point for businesses to this day. The City has a resident population of a little over 11,000, but around 316,700 people work there, mainly in the financial services sector. The legal profession forms a major component of the western side of the City. 108 Livery Companies maintain the City's history and traditions in their respective crafts, trades and professions. There are 40 Livery Halls within the City’s Roman boundary.
Freedom of the City
One of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies still in existence today is the granting of the Freedom of the City of London. It is believed that the first Freedom was presented in 1237. The mediaeval term 'freeman' meant someone who was not the property of a feudal lord, but enjoyed privileges such as the right to earn money and own land. Town dwellers that were protected by the charter of their town or city were often free hence the term 'freedom of the City'.
When an applicant has received the Freedom of the Livery Company they are required to obtain the Freedom of the City of London before they can proceed to become a member of the livery. To be eligible for the Freedom of the City of London the applicant has to be above the age of twenty-one years, not an un-discharged bankrupt and not having been convicted of a criminal offence.
The application will be submitted to the next Court of Aldermen for approval. Subject to the approval of the Court of Aldermen the successful applicant will receive a letter from the Clerk of the Chamberlain's Court inviting them to make an appointment for their freedom admission ceremony. Each freedom ceremony is carried out individually in the Chamberlain's Court Room, Guildhall. The applicant will be asked to read aloud the declaration of a freeman and to sign the declaration book, whereupon they will receive a copy of the freedom (City freedom certificate). Friends and family are most welcome to attend the ceremony.
The City is today a major business and financial centre, ranking alongside New York City as the leading centre of global finance; throughout the 19th century, the City served as the world's primary business centre, and continues to be a major meeting point for businesses to this day. The City has a resident population of a little over 11,000, but around 316,700 people work there, mainly in the financial services sector. The legal profession forms a major component of the western side of the City. 108 Livery Companies maintain the City's history and traditions in their respective crafts, trades and professions. There are 40 Livery Halls within the City’s Roman boundary.
OUR HISTORIC CARD COLLECTION
About the WCMPC Playing Card Collection
We have a large collection of cards and papers relating to playing cards over the centuries and currently stored at the London Metropolitan Archive.
The Company maintains and continues to expand its world famous collection of playing cards first presented by Past Master Henry Phillips in 1907 and housed by arrangement with the City of London at the London Metropolitan Archives.
The Company is currently undertaking an ambitious project to make digital images of our historic collection available: WCMPC Playing Card Collection online.
In 1907, Past Master Henry Phillips presented his own collection of playing cards to the company. He had been Master four times between 1854 and 1897. The collection at that time numbered 599 items, and these together with the John Berry and Waddington collections are now housed in the London Metropolitan Archive and total several thousand packs of cards dating back to the late 17th century. They are available for inspection by appointment.