A living tradition
Trade and craft associations have flourished all over Europe for many centuries, but the City of London companies, now collectively known as the Livery, are unique in their survival, number and diversity.
The social and economic conditions which gave birth to the original guilds have long since been overtaken by the development of industry and commerce, but the livery companies still flourish today as living institutions. Today there are 110 livery companies in the City of London.
An order of precedence was established in 1515 according to company wealth. To settle a dispute the Skinners and Merchant Taylors take positions six and seven on alternate years — hence the expression ‘being at sixes and sevens’.
We are proud of our involvement in the City of London. Two recent Sheriffs have had the Pattenmakers as their Mother Company: Past Master Anthony Eskenzi CBE in 1981, and Past Master Christopher Hayward in 2019–20.