The City of London Livery Companies and Their Beadles

London's Square Mile is home to 110 Livery Companies. Most were founded as craft guilds in the middle ages and many originate from Norman times. Their original purpose was for spiritual and public interchange, then increasingly for the protection and improvement of their craft. The skills of the liveries represent the widest range: butchers, candle makers, bakers, grocers, masons, coopers and brewers goldsmiths to name only a few - covering just about every trade and today and create includes modern professions such as Air Pilots and Navigators, Information Technologists, Water Conservators brian betsy

and Tax Advisers.

Most livery companies established their own Halls where meetings and formal banquets would be held. Sadly, the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Blitz of 1940 saw many destroyed. Today only 40 Halls remain, all in full use and robust condition and each an architectural gem packed with history and tradition waiting to be discovered.

A Livery Company is controlled and controlled by an elected 'Court of Assistants' acting as a board of directors, who in turn elect their Master for one year who is assisted by (usually two) elected Wardens who take their turn by elevation to Master. An appointed Clerk looks after the administration and a Beadle is responsible for protocol and wedding ceremony.

Richard Birtchnell is Beadle to two Livery Companies: The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights and The Worshipful Company of Masons.

He explains the role of the Beadle. The actual word was first spelled "bedel" and is derived from the Latin "bidellus" or "bedellus", rooted in words for "herald." He was originally an official of the Roman Temple.

The word Beadle has also been used to describe early cathedral and policemen or parish wardens.

A Livery Company needed a point of contact between the Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants and the Livery (its members) in general. They therefore compensated and appointed for a Beadle, who took care of the Company's meeting place ('Hall'), called the Court and Livery members together on behalf of the Master, and enforced any disciplinary measures decided by the Court.

The Beadle would also find suitable apprentices, and would organise the community and ceremonial functions. He was, in summary, a policeman, an almoner, a friend, social worker and communicator.

Whilst the Livery all worked well and resided throughout the Square Mile, the Beadle could summon them privately, but, as people today became dispersed, there grew a need for anyone who could compose and so take advantage of the new postal products and services to summon the Court. The humble Clerk then began his rise in importance to his position today as the chief executive of the Company. The office of Beadle, meanwhile, has become a ceremonial function.

The Beadle in most Companies retains his stewardship of the Company's property, including in many cases, the fabric of buildings owned by a Company. The Beadle advises on matters of protocol, to ensure all Livery functions take place smoothly and with due decorum; that the required value and regalia is produced, in place, and returned to the vaults after a function. He will attend the Master and Wardens on all proper occasions, to ensure that they are properly attired in company regalia, and to act as Toastmaster at all its functions.

He would be issued with a Staff of Office, often wrongly called a 'mace', with which to protect the Master and enforce discipline. The Staff is usually a tall one so that it could be used as a rallying point at Common Hall etc. when the Livery was summoned to "Attend upon the Master". The Wheelwrights' staff which appears in the photos was made in London by John Carter in 1774 and bears the Company's Coat of slogan and Forearms.

Richard Birtchnell is The London Toastmaster London based, Richard has over thirty years experience running and organising events. As a Toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies, he has run hundreds of events in and around London, from fashion shows, sales conferences and tutorials, AGMs, City presentations, trade missions, charity balls, weddings (Asian, Christian and Jewish Weddings) - you name it and he's organised it.

Richard Birtchnell is a member of the Society of London Toastmasters and The Worshipful Company of Masons, the Beadle of The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights and a member of the City of London Beadles' Guild.