The
Worshipful
Company Of
Cordwainers
An
introductory
guide to the
Cordwainers’ Company
Who we are.
& Leather Footwear
Charitable
giving
Education Heritage Involvement Fun.
Shoemaking is the
Cordwainer heritage.
Charitable
Giving
is the Cordwainers’ Future.
Our
History.
Cordwainers are shoemakers who practised their trade for centuries within the walls of the City of London. During the medieval period, craftsmen formed guilds to regulate their trades and to protect the quality of their wares. The guilds trained apprentices and supported their members through good times and bad.
1700
1870
Leather tie shoe
Leather laced ankle boot
Granted charters by successive monarchs, Cordwainers were licensed to trade within a particular area, known then, as now, as the Ward of Cordwainer – in fact, we are the only livery company to share our name with a ward of the City. Like many livery companies, the Cordwainers had an official home, a grand hall that bordered
St Paul’s Churchyard. One was destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666, and the last was damaged beyond repair in the Blitz in 1941. All that remains is a plaque to mark the spot. The livery companies helped make London rich, but they also left a remarkable legacy of charitable giving, which continues to this day.
1910
2000
Evening court shoe
Jimmy Choo sandal
Heritage. Cordwainers are shoemakers. Many members of the Company are descended from leatherworkers, and today they join together to promote the Company’s charitable endeavours. A smaller number are associated with the modern footwear or leather trade. Others lead university courses at the centres of excellence in fashion education, such as the London College of Fashion and the universities of De Montfort and Northampton. The Cordwainer float at the Lord Mayor’s show 2012
Cordwainers value the Company’s place at the heart of the City livery tradition. We are proud of the Company’s efforts to support excellence in British footwear design and value the charitable ethos that is at the heart of the Company’s history and heritage.
Basket boot by Stefanie Kerschbaumer.
The Company’s commercial success in the trading history of London forms the core of the Cordwainers’ charitable giving. Liveryman Patrick Peal
The Company, which is number 27 in the order of precedence of livery companies, is also proud to play a part in the civic pageantry and tradition of the City of London. Cordwainer Lord Mayor Alderman Roger Gifford
our
Charities. The focus of the Company’s charitable giving is on a number of charities and partners with whom we have established strong links.
London College of Fashion
The University of Northampton
De Montfort University
The Royal Free Hospital
Royal London Society for Blind People
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
The Urswick School, Hackney
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Capel Manor College
Cordwainers have raised more than £250,000 in the past five years - a modest proportion of the total donations given away by the Company for charitable purposes. Our fundraising has an immediate and tangible effect for the beneficiaries.
“ I appreciated my Cordwainers’ bursary more than ever – it helped me design a shoe fit for a queen!” Becka Hunt, De Montfort student and winner of competition to design shoes for the Duchess of Cambridge.
our
Commitment. “ I have taken part in a skydive for charity to raise money for the Royal Society for the Blind, which was an incredible, life-changing experience.” Liveryman Hester Williams
“ I was honoured to win the Cordwainers’ Cup for Excellence in 2011, which was presented by Lulu Guinness.” Molly Pryke
“ Our new library, with books provided by the Cordwainers, has had a real impact on the children of The Urswick School.” Richard Brown - Headteacher
1
2
how you can
Cordwainers like to do good and have fun, so we urge our members to do two things: participate and donate.
Help. This will ensure that the Company continues to promote charitable giving while maintaining a strong feeling of fellowship amongst its members. The Company has an exciting future ahead – we want you to be part of it, whether you are a member, friend, guest or associate.
3 I feel very privileged to be a member of the Cordwainers and I’m proud that it has been a part of my family for generations.
4
Freeman Laura Peal
1–A Master presents a cheque to the Fusiliers. 2 – L iveryman Hester Williams sky-dives for Cordwainer charities. 3 – The 2010 Cordoba to London bike ride raised over £20,000. 4–D ato Professor Jimmy Choo, Liveryman of the Cordwainers’ Company.
Shoemaking is the
Cordwainer heritage. A guide to the activities of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, a livery company of the City of London. Originally shoemakers, members of the company now work to support the company’s charities and help fund training and footwear education throughout the UK.
The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers Clothworkers’ Hall, Dunster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7AH.
Telephone +44 (0) 20 7929 1121 Email: office@cordwainers.org
www.cordwainers.org
Cover: Ballets Russes suede boot by Alexandra Kirk.