The companies were initially founded to promote the crafts and ‘misteries’ which were the backbone of commercial life of early and mediaeval London. Today they cover a much wider range of skills and professions, but still provide the foundation for the City Corporation

The craft of the Horner goes back ‘to time immemorial’, and there is no doubt that it was practised long before the Norman Conquest. The first known reference to the Company was when its ordinances were ‘corrected’ in 1284, making it one of the most ancient of livery companies. Horn is a natural plastic [keratin], which allows it to be moulded into many articles, such as beakers, utensils, combs and buttons, but its greatest use, right up to the 18th century was in being beaten into translucent sheets to be fabricated into lantern leaves and even windows. As late as 1745, the Company had rights to ‘press lantern leaves’ for the City lighting, and up to Tudor times there was an official Horner to the Crown.

In 1391 the Company was granted new ordinances which allowed it to elect its own wardens. Previously in 1362 the leather Bottlemakers were placed under the protection of the Horners, by 1383 there were only ten working in the City, and in 1476 the Bottlemakers were formally incorporated into the Company. In 1465 there was an important Statute that protected the craft, commercial rights and mysteries of the Horners. This Statute was later incorporated into the Charter granted to the Company by King Charles I on May 5th 1638. This Charter established the offices of Master and Assistants of the ‘Fellowship and Mystery’ of the Company of Horners.

Unfortunately, the subsequent centuries saw the decline of the Company and the use of horn, largely accelerated by acrimonious trade disputes and the growing availability of cheaper glass. This ‘ingenious but stinking business’ was banished to outside the eastern City boundaries. However, despite these setbacks, in 1846, a petition to Parliament resulted in the Company being granted full livery rights. As a result, by 1890, the Horners had regressed to an introvert dining club, and the hall and plate had to be sold.

Whilst the use of horn continued to decline, the twentieth century saw a considerable rise in the Company’s fortunes. Through a succession of enterprising Clerks and Masters, their numbers were allowed to rise to 100 in 1905 and then to 200 in 1925. Seven Horners have served as Lord Mayor and many others in the office of Sheriff. In 1943, recognising that the working of horn was no longer a viable industry, the Company had the great foresight to adopt its modern equivalent, the Plastics Industry. Since that time the Company has played a role, and kept pace with a significant international technological industry. Similarly, bottle production has progressed to be a major consumer of plastic materials, and bottlemaking once more fits the Horners’ portfolio.

Thus an ancient guild has transformed itself into a twenty-first century City institution, where today, its 250 or so members hail from the City, the Plastics Industry and the professions. The Company’s progressive charitable activities are focussed on supporting science education at all ages through teacher development and internet provision, and the promotion of excellence in Plastics Design and Technology. Each year, the Company also donates to charities chosen by the Master and the Lord Mayor, and allocates funds for City related charities.

Ten years ago, our Upper Warden, Mike Birell, prepared a superb presentation for the Polymer Study Tour in London  describing our History and our embracing of the plastics industry. It is as relevant today as it was then and is highly recommended. Click on the picture below to view it.

A history was written by J F Fisher and first published in 1936, shortly before our links with the plastics industry. Commissioned  and paid for by Liveryman George Becker, it was beautifully printed with a black and cream binding and the cream pages within had ragged edges giving the book an antique look. It even included a  transparent leaf protecting the pages of each of the various illustrations.

A complimentary copy was sent to all members of the Company with a letter suggesting that the recipient made a contribution to the Horners Charity Fund. Here is one of these letters:

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In 1990,  the book was reprinted , thanks to the Generous sponsorship of ICI, and a complimentary numbered copy was sent to all Horners. This book, with its blue cover was conventionally bound and both can sometimes be bought second hand on ebay.

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Our Honorary Archivist  had a look in the archives and reported as follows:

“There are two ORIGINAL versions of this letter in the Archives. The letter asks for the arrival of the History to be acknowledged and the Archives have the acknowledgements in a bundle. I quote from the letter of WH Cork, an accountant writing from his office at 19 Eastcheap (admitted in 1921 and presumably the father of our Past Master Sir Kenneth Cork):”

‘I have received, with the greatest possible pleasure, the very wonderful book which Mr George Becker has prepared. Will you kindly let me have his private address as I should very much like to send him a personal note. I do not think I have ever seen a book which has been so delightfully printed.

So far as the Charity Fund is concerned, I am naturally anxious to subscribe; can you give me an idea of the general subscription which is being sent by members as this would assist me?’

The Clerk replied, giving Becker’s address in Castlenau and saying that the gifts to the Fund ranged from ten shillings to five guineas. Bearing in mind that today’s man on £30,000 per annum would have been earning less than a thousand a year in those days, the gifts are generous.

I remark that George Becker financed the book but he did not prepare it. Poor old FJ Fisher who actually wrote the book deserves some credit, too! If it had not been for my enforced isolation due to Covid 19, I would not have had all this at my fingertip.”

HORNERS – A portrait of a Livery Company by I.M.Wilkinson

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In 2015, Honorary Liveryman Irene Wilkinson, brought our History upto date with her book,  ‘The Worshipful Company of Horners – Portrait of a Livery Company. A complimentary copy was given to every member of The Company, and copies are available @ £25 each from the Clerk.

Back in 1973, a major exhibition of the Horner’s Craft was held at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery from May to September of that year. It was believed to be the first exhibition of Horn since 1882 when the Horner’s Company held one at Mansion House. The 1973 exhibition came about through the friendship of the then Court Assistant Gordon Pinker and the curator of Worthing Museum,  Len Bickerton who together made it happen.

As well as numerous items from the Horner’s collection, Past Master William Dobson lent his entire collection; others came from the Royal Collection,  the Victoria and Albert Museum, the City of London Museum and Guildhall.

For the opening Ceremony the Master Horner, his Wardens and the Clerk met the Mayor of Worthing and the Town Clerk at the Town Hall and together they processed with P/M Michael Spofforth  (the father of P/M Mark Spofforth) proudly carrying the Narwhal Horn.

Once at the Museum the party viewed the Exhibition which ranged from a wide variety of horn items from powder horns, drinking horns, boxes, combs, various horn utensils  and an intricate stag horn armchair lent by the Royal Collection from the horn room at Osbourne House.

The Mayor of Worthing Councillor Godfrey and The Master Percy Lovely inspect the Millennium Cup with the Curator Len Bickerton

Court Assistant Michael Spofforth and the Deputy Master Alfred Robertson view the exhibits.

The Mace Bearer to the Mayor of Worthing  views the exhibition.

Here you can see more of the exhibition:

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After viewing the Exhibition the party were entertained to an informal private dinner at Warnes Hotel hosted by Mrs Joan Pinker who was subsequently installed an an Honorary Freeman for the key part that she played in mounting the Exhibition.

You can see from the cost of the menu, the effect of inflation from then to the present time!

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The Exhibition attracted some Press coverage. Local papers, the Worthing Herald, Worthing Gazette and the West Sussex Gazette all covered it – some more than once. The City Press, the then local paper for the City of London reported on it and Country Life gave it a two page spread on 7th June 1973. BBC South Today featured antiques expert Bernard Price interviewing the curator Len Bickerton at the exhibition.