About our Company
We are one of the oldest Companies in the City of London, and still actively supporting the craft, the City and those less fortunate. Number 31 in the order of precedence for Livery Companies, we were granted our Ordinances in 1365.
The Aims and Objectives of the Company were revised in 2010 and reflect our dynamic approach to the present and the future yet at the same time remembering our past heritage.
Company composition
Akin to most Livery Companies, the Plumbers’ Company consists of:
- Freemen
- Liverymen
- Court of Assistants – drawn from within the Livery, it reflects in its membership those disciplines which are needed for the Court to advise and help the Officers of the Company to run its affairs
- Officers of the Company – the Master, Upper Warden, and Renter Warden are installed annually in October and serve for one year
- Stewards – led by the Senior Steward, they help to ensure the smooth running of functions and organise Company visits. Stewards serve initially for three years, and then either stand-down, or continue on to become Senior Steward. If you’re interested in finding out more, or applying, please contact the Clerk for more details. It’s fun way of discovering more about your Company!
- Company Committees – there are five major committees: Education & Technical, Finance, Freedom & Livery, Membership, and Social, each chaired by a Court Member – see our Company Reports
- Clerk, Financial Assistant, and Beadle
We also have an Almoner and an Hon. Archivist.
Charity
The Plumbers Charity – Our vision is to promote better plumbers, better plumbing, better health, and better lives, and we do this by supporting plumbing education, training and development, and the promotion of the ‘craft of plumbing’.
Plumbing Museum and Workshop Trust #PMWT – Based at Amberley Museum, the Trust maintains the Ancient Craft of Leadwork by exhibiting and looking after plumbing tools and artifacts, some of which date back to Roman times, and by providing a working Traditional Craft Leadwork Workshop for educational and demonstration purposes, staffed by our experienced volunteers.
We have a Royal Honorary Liveryman
Her Majesty The Queen (formerly HRH The Duchess of Cornwall) was admitted to our Livery on 26th January 2017.
The Livery Year
In addition to the wide variety of visits and social activities, which are arranged throughout the year for members of the Company and their guests, there are certain Company formal functions and City events which are normally held in the following months:
October: Installation Service
November: Ladle Dinner
December: Carol Service
March: Annual Banquet
May: Annual Lecture
June: Election of the Sheriffs
July: Summer Festival Dinner
September: Election of the Lord Mayor of the City of London
Liveryman are encouraged to attend the election of Sheriffs and the election of the Lord Mayor.
Fun and Fellowship
There are a range of activities that members can join, which you can see from our forthcoming events. If you would like more details, contact the Clerk.