The Worshipful Company of Horners maintains the constitution, traditions and customs of the City of London and supports the Lord Mayor and Corporation in promoting the status and the image of the City. The Company seeks to maintain and support the ancient crafts of the Horner and bottlemaker and promotes an interest in and the development of plastics, the plastics industry and scientific education. The Company uses and endeavours to increase its charity funds to support its portfolio of education activities, City and other selected charities, and that championed by the Master. It does so whilst promoting the good fellowship and welfare of its Liverymen, Freemen and its guests.
The Worshipful Company of Horners is both an ancient guild and livery company. It is also a modern City institution. The first historic reference to the Company was recorded in 1284, although the craft of the Horner dates from centuries before this.
In 1476 the Horners were joined by the Leather Bottlemakers, whose trade had already been eroded by the development of glass bottles. The Company operates under a Charter received from Charles I in 1638 (although it is known that there were earlier charters).
As the craft of working horn declined, the Company had the vision in 1943 to adopt the horn business's modern equivalent - the Plastics Industry. (Natural horn and many modern plastics are thermoplastic, and can be shaped and moulded into useful artefacts by heat and pressure).
The Company fulfils its mission through the actions of its Master, Wardens, Court of Assistants, Liverymen, Freemen and Apprentices. It enjoys many social events, both formal and informal and has a number of educational activities, of which it is rightly proud. The Company also sponsors the Horners Award for Plastics and enjoys the links, which it maintains with both the City of London and the Plastics Industry.