The Livery Companies of the City of London (of which the Worshipful Company of Horners is ranked number 54) were in existence at the end of the Anglo-Saxon period in the 11th century, and in 1066, all the best men representing the Crafts and Guilds went from London to Berkhampstead Castle to accept William as King. The Crown gave the citizens of London a succession of Charters, which laid the foundations of the government of the City, firstly with the Sheriffs and then the Mayoralty. The first Mayor, in 1192, was Henry FitzAylwin, and since King John gave rights to the citizens, the Lord Mayor has always been elected by the Liverymen of the City's Livery Companies.
The Livery Companies were established to protect and maintain the arts and mysteries of their crafts, professions and trades. In the Middle Ages they were combinations of trade unions and trade associations. They grew in strength and wealth, congregated in their own halls, and were allowed to wear distinctive uniforms or liveries. Rivalries were often intense with violent confrontations; individual companies armed their retainers and all were expected to contribute to the City militia. Matters were settled in 1515, when an order of precedence was established based upon each Company's power and influence at the time. This order remains after almost 500 years, and the Horners' Company is ranked number 54.
Royal Charters, granted under the Great Seal of England, allow privileges to individuals or groups of people, and before 1750 were the only means for a company of merchants or craftsmen to obtain corporate status. Without a Royal Charter it was not possible to own a common hall, use a common seal, or enter into legal agreements. The earliest charter granted to a livery company was to the Weavers' Company sometime between 1155 and 1158. Once granted, a Royal Charter remains in force indefinitely and confers the title ' Worshipful Company'.
Over the years, due to the decline in trade many companies have ceased to exist. However, many new companies have come into existence. Many of the companies have retained strong links with their original trade, but other have developed links and patronages to new trades and industries deemed the modern equivalent of the original trade. Changes in fortune, the Great Fire of London, and World War II enemy action have resulted in not all Livery Companies having their own hall. Of the 107 Companies in 2008, only 39 have their own halls, six of which date back to the 17th century.
Today, the Livery Companies retain their important role supporting the traditions and customs of the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London, and they take part in the ceremonies of the City.
The Companies play very important social and charity roles both inside and outside 'the square mile' of the City. There is strong support for charities, some receiving unique sponsorship from a Company. The financial value of charitable contributions exceeded £38,000,000 in the year 2000, excluding the time commitment of many of the 23,000 Liverymen in directly supporting the charities.
Many Livery Companies have a long history of educational support and several schools are sponsored by particular companies. Other companies are prominent in other ways in leading and supporting educational initiatives.
Alongside their City activities and charity work most Companies have attractive programmes of visits, dinners and other social events, which make membership of a Livery Company a pleasant experience.
The Horners were granted their current charter by King Charles I in 1638 and are ranked number 54 of the 103 Livery Companies in existence today. They have not had their own hall since the end of the 19th century, but have a base at the Painter-Stainers' Hall in Little Trinity Lane, which is close to the church of St James Garlickhythe, where the Horners hold their annual Election Day Service and their Carol Service. The Company's Chaplaincy Church is St Botolph without Bishopsgate.
The craft of the Horner is no longer practised widely in Britain, however the Company has a few working horners amongst its members. It also has many historical connections and possesses an impressive collection of horn artefacts, many of which are kept in the Museum of London. Hornsticks are carried by the Company officers at Court meetings and at other ceremonial occasions. An impressive Narwhal tusk, with its characteristic spiral groove running the whole of its 9 feet length, is carried in procession at the Annual Banquet. At formal dinners and lunches the Master and Wardens regularly demonstrate the art of drinking from a horn vessel, and the Company's major design award (the Horners' Award) is a splendid example of a silver-decorated antique drinking horn.
In 1943 the craft of the Horner was very much in decline as more and more domestic artefacts were being made from synthetic plastics. Both horn and thermoplastic polymers can be shaped by heat and pressure and with this connection in mind began, what has turned out to be, a very successful relationship between the Horners' Company and the Plastics Industry. The Company now sponsors awards for design in plastics by both professionals and students, and is rightly proud of its association and sponsorship of a number of pioneering courses in education, including the Polymer Study Tours, the Salters Horners Advanced Physics Project, and an attempt to draw together more closely the teaching of science and technology in schools.
These were granted in 1992 by the College of Arms. The arms incorporate horn bugles and leather bottles (which represent the history of the Company) and the crest shows a polyethylene molecule and a benzene ring (which embrace the association with the Plastics Industry). The blazon is carried on the Company literature, a gentleman's tie and a ladies' headscarf.
The Company is led by a Court, consisting of the Master, Deputy Master and the Wardens (the Officers) and not more than 37 Court Assistants. Each officer holds office for one year and after his year of office (and subject to election), the junior Renter Warden becomes the Upper Warden and then succeeds to become Master. The retiring Master then serves for a year as Deputy. A General Purposes Committee manages the main issues of the day and also the finances of the Company. Other Committees include the Polymer Committee, which concerns itself with the Company's relations with the Plastics Industry; The Programme and Publicity Committee, The Horners Award Committee, an Heritage Committee and the Livery Committee. A Committee of Trustees, chaired by the Master, receives advice from three sub-committees dealing with the Company's charitable involvement with education, general giving and investments.