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
Weaver's Trade
As part of its 900th anniversary celebrations, The Weavers’ Company has commissioned The Weaver’s Trade, a new book that tells the remarkable story of Britain’s weaving industry. Published in June 2026, the book traces the evolution of weaving from medieval handlooms through the Industrial Revolution to the thriving specialist manufacturers and heritage businesses of today. Drawing on the experiences of contemporary weavers, educators and industry leaders, it highlights the resilience, innovation and enduring importance of textiles to Britain’s culture and economy. Find out more about the book and how to get a copy here.
Justice and Women
For over 50 years the Weavers have supported organisations working in the criminal justice sector and have increasingly focused on the disproportionate harm caused by short custodial sentences for women.
In January 2025 we convened a national Alternatives to Custody Summit at Church House, bringing together more than 300 practitioners, researchers, policymakers and charities working across the women’s justice sector. The summit explored practical ways to reduce female imprisonment and highlighted the need for earlier, coordinated support for young women at risk of entering the criminal justice system.
Following the summit, the Weavers launched a funded competition to develop a scalable intervention, which was won by Her Insights Collective who have created of the NEST (Nurture, Empower, Support, Thrive) programme.
Those who are interested in this programme of work can support this initiative in a number of ways:
– encouraging discussions with press contacts to widen interest and awareness
– talking to friends and colleagues who have an interest in either this work or the wider charitable work of livery companies
– reposting communication that goes out on our social media channels
· LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/weavers-company/
· Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/weavers_clerk/
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 800th 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!”
A short film of the trip can be seen below.
850th Fanfare
A “Fanfare for the Weavers” was written for the 850th Anniversary of the Company in W.J Burras in 1979 and first played by the Berisford’s Band at the Livery Dinner on 1st December 1979 in Vintners’ Hall.
W.J. Burras was a liveryman of the Company. The Berisford’s Band was the band of Berisford’s Ltd whose Chairman at the time was Mr J.F. Sebire OBE who was also Upper Bailiff.
Berisfords continues to manufacture ribbons this day in Congleton, Cheshire
Berisfords Ribbons and Bows