Over the years certain of the livery companies have ceased to exist, several due to a decline in their particular trade, and some by being absorbed into other companies.
Examples of those that thrived during times gone by were the Maltmen, Bonnet Makers, Fariners & Fishermen, Starchmakers, Silkthrowers, Silkmen, Pinmakers, Soapmakers, Hatband Makers, Pursers, Galoshmakers, Virginals-makers, Woodmongers, Heaumers. The following is a list of livery companies in order of precedence:
1 Mercers* | 37 Tylers & Bricklayers | 73 Gunmakers |
2 Grocers* | 38 Bowvers | 74 Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers |
3 Drapers* | 39 Fletchers*1 | 75 Makers of Playing Cards |
4 Fishmongers* | 40 Blacksmiths | 76 Fanmakers |
5 Goldsmiths* | 41 Joiners | 77 Carmen |
6 Merchant Taylors** | 42 Weavers | 78 Master Mariners* |
7 Skinners** | 43 Woolmen | 79 Solicitors |
8 Haberdashers* | 44 Scriveners | 80 Farmers*1 |
9 Salters* | 45 Fruiterers | 81 Air Pilots and Navigators |
10 Ironmongers* | 46 Plaisterers* | 82 Tobacco Pipe Makers* |
11 Vintners* | 47 Stationers and Newspaper Makers* | 83 Furniture Makers* |
12 Clothworkers* | 48 Broderers | 84 Scientific Instrument Makers*2 |
13 Dyers* | 49 Upholders | 85 Chartered Surveyors |
14 Brewers* | 50 Musicians | 86 Chartered Accountants |
15 Leathersellers* | 51 Turners | 87 Chartered Secretaries |
16 Pewterers* | 52 Basketmakers | 88 Builders Merchants |
17 Barbers* | 53 Glaziers*2 | 89 Launderers*2 |
18 Cutlers* | 54 Homers | 90 Marketors |
19 Bakers* | 55 Farriers | 91 Actuaries |
20 Waxchandlers* | 56 Paviors | 92 Insurers* |
21 Tallow Chandlers* | 57 Loriners | 93 Arbitrators |
22 Armourers and Braziers* | 58 Apothecaries* | 94 Engineers |
23 Girdlers* | 59 Shipwrights | 95 Fuellers |
24 Butchers* | 60 Spectaclemakers | 96 Lightmongers |
25 Saddlers* | 61 Clockmakers | 97 Environmental Cleaners |
26 Carpenters* | 62 Glovers | 98 Chartered Architects |
27 Cordwainers | 63 Feltmakers | 99 Constructors |
28 Painters* | 64 Framework Knitters | 100 Information Technologists* |
29 Curriers | 65 Needlemakers | 101 World Traders |
30 Masons | 66 Gardeners | 102 Water Conservators |
31 Plumbers | 67 Tin Plate Workers | 103 Fire Fighters |
32 Innholders* | 68 Wheelwrights | 104 Hackney Carriage Drivers |
33 Founders* | 69 Distillers | 105 Management Consultants |
34 Poulters | 70 Pa ttenmakers | 106 International Bankers |
35 Cooks | 71 Glass Sellers | 107 Tax advisors |
36 Coopers* | 72 Coachmakers | 108 Security Professionals |
** Alternates each year between 6 & 7 (each has their own Hall)
* Companies having Halls
*’ Shared Hall
Companies without Livery: Parish Clerks, Watermen & Lightermen
Guilds anticipating Livery: Public Relations Practitioners; Educators: Arts Scholars,: Dealers and Collectors.
The order of precedence was set by the City Fathers in 1515 and is based on each livery’s influence at that time, thus, the order of precedence has little, if any, relationship, to the age of a Company. For example, the Weavers’ Company is 42 in precedence but believed to be the oldest chartered craft in the City with a Charter starting in 1155; the Mercers’ Company is number 1 in precedence and has a Charter dated 1394.