Nostalgia: Rise of the Bakers' Company

12:05pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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Tony Cavan of the eponymous Hampton bakery business talked about the staff of life as the welcome guest of the Probus Club of Twickenham.

Speaking at the Fulwell Golf Club, he described his own experiences of the Bakers Company.

Installed as Master of the Worshipful Company of Bakers in 2002, he had initially been attracted by the ceremonial involved and the fellowship generated at the meetings. The company was founded as the Guild of Our Lady and Saint Clement.

He went on with an account of the original coat of arms which predated the College of Arms and had the Papal Crown as its crest.

This incorporated three sheaves of wheat which represent the main ingredient of bread and scales which represent the Assize of Bread which the company controlled from 1266 until 1815.

The price of bread was thereby fixed while allowing the weight of a loaf to vary with fluctuation in the price of wheat in the following way. Tables were drawn up showing how much the weight of a loaf was to decrease with every increase of 6d in the price of a quarter of wheat.

The bakers' working expenses were covered by a fixed allowance which was added to the price of wheat when calculating the weight of a loaf. These were weighed monthly and the setting of the Assize was controlled by the magistrates.

The Bakers Company settled in Harp Lane in 1506 but the building was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. This probably started in the bakery of one Thomas Faryner, the King's baker. The fire swept along Thames Street and destroyed Bakers Hall along with 13.200 homes, 87 churches, 44 livery halls and made 100,000 people homeless.

A new hall was built between 1673 and 1675 but was again destroyed by fire in 1715. Its replacement built between 1719 and 1722 was destroyed by enemy action in 1940.

The new hall was opened in 1963.

The earliest reference to the Baker's Company is in the Pipe Rolls, the great account rolls of the King's Exchequer in 1155, so making the Bakers to be the second oldest Trade Guild in London, the oldest being the Weavers.

The Royal Charter given by Henry V11 dates from 1486. There was constant friction between the main body of the company, the White Bakers and the smaller group of Brown Bakers who made coarse breads for the poor and for horse feed.

These differences were resolved when Queen Elizabeth signed the charter in 1569.

The City Livery companies in general now number 108 and have 25,000 members.

The great twelve are senior groups and these have been joined over the years so that currently the last twelve reflect more modern trades and professions.

The vote of thanks was given by John Demont, himself a liveryman. Probus meetings are held monthly. More from secretary Mike Fraser 020 8893 8656.