A wealthy Moor
Africans were already known to have been living in... Read More
Company News
In her 2017 book Black Tudors: The Untold Story Miranda Kaufmann has written a seminal work which challenges the idea that the horrors of late 17th and 18th Century slavery marked the beginning of Africans’ presence in England, exploitation and discrimination their only experience. The book takes the form of ten vivid and wide-ranging true-life stories, sprinkled with dramatic vignettes and specific details that bring each character to life.
With the opening of the extension to the Northern Line via Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station, as two new stations, it seems timely to recall the origins of the entire Underground and its connection to one of the Haberdashers’ Company Liverymen.
Charles Pearson (1793 – 1862), Haberdasher was a British lawyer and politician. He was solicitor to the City of London, a reforming campaigner, and briefly Member of Parliament for Lambeth. He was born at 25 Clement's Lane in the City of London, the son of Thomas... Read More
Swan upping is the traditional means by which the Mute swans on the Thames are apportioned among three proprietors; this is because ownership of swans on the Thames is shared equally between The Crown, the Vintners’ Company and the Dyers’ Company. [All three are seen surrounding the swans in these pictures - Vintners' red flags; Dyers' blue flags & Royal Insignia] Its main purposes today are to conduct a census of swans on the Thames and specifically to count and allocate the apportioned... Read More
Haberdasher Past Master Michael Jeans MBE was nominated by the Company for the Lord Mayor's COVID-19 Livery Award for his outstanding work raising money for St Mary's Paddington during the pandemic.
Please see the original story here. The money raised, including Gift Aid, is now around £35,000. Many congratulations Michael - extremely well-deserved!
Michael receiving his award from Lord Mayor William Russell, Liveryman, at the presentation at Mansion House on 19th July
Michael... Read More
The portrait of Eliza Hayley, attributed to George Romney, hangs in the Luncheon Room at Haberdashers' Hall.
But who really painted this haunting portrait? And what do we know about the woman it portrays? Lisa Gee discusses Eliza Hayley and her portrait with Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator, Derby Museums and Art Gallery, Dr David Bartle, Company Archivist, Conservator-Restorer Simon Gillespie and Art Historian Alex Kidson, author of George Romney: A Complete Catalogue of his Paintings (Yale University Press).
Eliza's letters read by Dora Gee.... Read More
The Haberdashers’ Company is very sorry to announce the sad death of Past Master George Pulman QC. George died suddenly on the 15th of January from a heart attack, at home with his wife Penny.
Having entered our Company as an Apprentice to Penny’s father, George embraced the Haberdashers and took the time to get to know everyone. He went out of his way to bring a new guest to every event, had many Apprentices, and is directly responsible for dozens of Liverymen and Freemen joining our Company. His wedding... Read More
The Music Department at The Haberdashers' Aske's School for Boys has made this stunning recording to celebrate the election of Habs Old Boy Daniel Hochberg as Master. Daniel was Head Boy at the school, where he played the harpsichord, piano and organ, and subsequently became Chairman of the Board of Governors. Many congratulations, Daniel, and many, many thanks to all involved at the school.
On 19th November 2020 the Company’s new Master and Wardens were elected for the forthcoming year.
They are:
The Master Daniel HochbergDaniel became a Haberdasher fifty years ago in February 1970 when he passed the entrance exam for the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Elstree. His parents were both schoolteachers. He greatly enjoyed his school career, which gave him opportunities to learn to play the organ and to get involved in debating... Read More
The Framework Knitters' Company is holding a Charity Blanket Auction from 9th to 22nd November. Their ‘Knit for Community’ initiative began as a result of lockdown earlier this year. The response from over 400 volunteers across the UK has been fantastic, including residents of almshouses in Leicester and members or friends of 32 Livery Companies. Over 12,000 squares have been donated and to date over 130 blankets and 30 lap blankets have been completed. Charities in Leicester, Nottingham, Calderdale, Watford and London will benefit from this project and the Knitters have... Read More
This month sees the 80th anniversary of the destruction of Haberdashers' Hall during an air raid on the City of London: 29th December 1940.
Thankfully nobody was hurt, but it’s a sad story - the Hall had been standing on the corner of Staining Lane and Maiden Lane (now Gresham St) since 1667, after the first Hall burnt down in the Great Fire of London of 1666. Our Archivist Dr Bartle has unearthed the Acting Beadle’s report to the Court from our Archive. His words speak for themselves:... Read More