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Lot Essay
THE SKINNERS COMPANY
The Worshipful Company of Skinner was incorporated in 1327 and are one of the senior 'Great Twelve' Livery Companies of London. In order of seniority they are 'at sixes and sevens' with the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. The order of precedence of the Livery Companies is based on the date of incorporation. The Skinners Company and the Merchant Taylors were both incorporated in 1327, which led to a dispute as to which was the more senior organisation. This came to a head in 1484 when neither would give way to each other during the Lord Mayor's Procession on the River Thames. The ensuing unseemly race between the two boats led to mediation, at the request of the respective masters of the two companies. This was led by the Lord Mayor, a Haberdasher, Robert Billesdon. The resulting Billesdon Award decreed that the two companies should alternate between the sixth and seventh position and the master of each company should be invited to dine at each other's hall each year. Resulting sporting links between the two is celebrated with an annual dinner.
The Skinners Hall at 8 Dowgate Hill is a fine Georgian fronted building, with Ionic pilasters and a neo-classical entablature and armorial pediment above dating from 1778. The core of the Hall dates to the rebuilding after the Great Fire in 1666. It was badly damaged during the Second World War. Treasures of the Company include the Cockayne Cups, a magnificent set of five Elizabeth I silver-gilt cups in the form of a cockerel. Zachery Langton (1762-1843), who named his own son Skinner, was a successful London merchant and Master of the Company of in 1796. He would have drunk from the Cockayne Cups at his Livery dinners. From the 20th century are an extraordinary series of painting by Frank Brangwyn (1857-1956) which depict events from the history of the Company.
The Worshipful Company of Skinner was incorporated in 1327 and are one of the senior 'Great Twelve' Livery Companies of London. In order of seniority they are 'at sixes and sevens' with the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. The order of precedence of the Livery Companies is based on the date of incorporation. The Skinners Company and the Merchant Taylors were both incorporated in 1327, which led to a dispute as to which was the more senior organisation. This came to a head in 1484 when neither would give way to each other during the Lord Mayor's Procession on the River Thames. The ensuing unseemly race between the two boats led to mediation, at the request of the respective masters of the two companies. This was led by the Lord Mayor, a Haberdasher, Robert Billesdon. The resulting Billesdon Award decreed that the two companies should alternate between the sixth and seventh position and the master of each company should be invited to dine at each other's hall each year. Resulting sporting links between the two is celebrated with an annual dinner.
The Skinners Hall at 8 Dowgate Hill is a fine Georgian fronted building, with Ionic pilasters and a neo-classical entablature and armorial pediment above dating from 1778. The core of the Hall dates to the rebuilding after the Great Fire in 1666. It was badly damaged during the Second World War. Treasures of the Company include the Cockayne Cups, a magnificent set of five Elizabeth I silver-gilt cups in the form of a cockerel. Zachery Langton (1762-1843), who named his own son Skinner, was a successful London merchant and Master of the Company of in 1796. He would have drunk from the Cockayne Cups at his Livery dinners. From the 20th century are an extraordinary series of painting by Frank Brangwyn (1857-1956) which depict events from the history of the Company.