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Celebrating 900 Years of the Company

Celebrations and Plans

In 2030, the Worshipful Company of Weavers will be celebrating 900 years since its first mention in the Pipe Roll of 1130, the Pipe Roll being a roll of parchment on which payments into the Exchequer were noted.

This page will be updated regularly with the plans and events being organised to celebrate this extraordinary milestone; it was afterall only 64 years after the Battle of Hastings.

An example of an 1130 Pipe Roll

Justice and Women: A New Direction

The Company is partnering with Clinks to bring talented change makers together for a new event on 30January 2025.

The event will work to find alternatives to prison sentences for women, and change what justice looks and feels like for women.

The Company and Clinks hope to make a substantial difference in this field to mark not only the Company’s 900 year anniversary but also to mark 50 years of working in this sector

Justice and Women

1930 - Celebrating 800 Years

In 1930, one of the Company’s events to celebrate its 800 years was a dinner held in Grocers’ Hall attended by HRH The Prince of Wales. Pictured here with from left to right: J.C. Ingle, William Fox, HRH, Major G.R.Y. Radcliffe, G.H. Chubb, L.E. Tanner. One of those present Mr. J.H. Early described part of the evening in a letter to his sister:

“Once he blew into the room there was very little stiff adherence to programme. Instead of standing solemnly with the Officers of the Company so that we might be presented to him in turn, he at once sailed round the room, the Upper Bailiff panting after him and H.R.H. shaking hands with everyone he met with the utmost heartiness.”

800th Anniversary Visit to Belgium

In 1930, the Company Officers and seven members of the Court (pictured magnificently here) visited Belgium to celebrate the Company’s 800^th Anniversary. The group visited Brussels, Ghent, Bruges and Courtrai and at each location they were entertained beautifully by the Burgomasters. It was not all smooth sailing; on a tour of the docks in Ghent the motor launch broke down! Finally, on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the Company hosted a dinner to thank their hosts. Dr Lawrence Tanner stated the visit:

“was a great success and…. much of the success was due to the fact the Upper Bailiff (Geoffrey Radcliffe) was in terrific form, and ready to talk and make speeches in fluent French – and with an accent all of his own – at any hour of the day or night!”