Worshipful Company of Brewers

The Worshipful Company of Brewers is one of the ancient livery companies of the City of London.

Brewers' Company

The present Brewers' Hall in London
Motto	In God Is All Our Trust
Location	Brewers' Hall, Aldermanbury Square, London EC2
Date of formation	1438; 586 years ago (1438)
Company association	Brewing
Order of precedence	14th
Master of company	James Staughton OBE DL
Website	www.brewershall.co.uk

History

Coat of arms of the Worshipful Company of Brewers

London brewers are known to have organised as a group in the 13th century. Its first royal charter was granted by Henry VI in 1438. In 1643, Parliament imposed excise taxes on beer, ale, and malt, steadily increasing them until gin became cheaper, causing the growth of unlicensed breweries and, in 1685, James II extended the Company's jurisdiction to eight miles around London and its suburbs. In 1739 it adopted new by-laws, which included the requirement for its liverymen to "enter into a bond [...] with the Company against any expenses of their being elected to the office of Sheriff or Lord Mayor",^[1] but as the population of London spread outwards from the City, the Company's industry influence continued to decline.

Trustees of the Dame Alice Owen Foundation, which supports Dame Alice Owen's School,^[2] the Brewers' Company ranks 14th in the order of precedence of City Livery Companies. Its motto is In God Is All Our Trust.

Former Brewers' Hall, destroyed in 1940

The Company's first hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666,^[3] and its second was bombed during the Blitz in 1940. Rebuilt in 1960, the present Brewers' Hall is located at Aldermanbury Square in the City of London, being the Company's HQ as well as available on a private hire basis for events.^[4]

See also

• Masters of the Worshipful Company of Brewers
• Zunft

References

1. "Documentary History of the U.S. Brewers' Association with a Sketch of Ancient Brewers' Gilds: Modern Brewers' Associations, Scientific Stations and Schools, Publications, Laws and Statistics Relating to Brewing Throughout the World..." U.S. Brewers' Association. 4 December 1896. p. 24. Retrieved 4 December 2018 – via Google Books.
2. www.damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk
3. "History of the Hall - Brewers Hall". Brewershall.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
4. "Brewers' Hall London Venue Hire City Of London | eve". Archived from the original on 29 October 2019.

External links

• The Worshipful Company of Brewers

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