Group    From 1472 

Worshipful Company of Masons

Categories: Liveries & Guilds

The masons did very well out of the post-fire rebuilding of London. From their website: "The focus of our Livery Company is to preserve and encourage the use of natural stone in the built environment. This includes supporting the training of craftsmen as well as the preservation and appreciation of iconic historic stone buildings....

Our Company was formed with the object of regulating the craft of stonemasonry so that standards could be properly maintained and rewarded. The earliest available records of regulation from the Court of Aldermen are dated 1356. In 1472 a Grant of Arms was received under Letters Patent but it was not until 1677 that the Company was formally incorporated by Royal Charter under the seal of King Charles II which gave it authority to control the work of masons in the Cities of London and Westminster and seven miles around. This was a necessary power in order to control the influx of provincial stonemasons assisting in the rebuilding of the capital following the Great Fire in 1666 and to enable the maintenance of strict standards, although governance was never quite as tight again.

Since then members of the Company have been involved in the creation and preservation of the majority of iconic stone buildings and structures across these Cities and nationwide. Joshua and Edward Marshall erected Temple Bar in 1673, the barrier from where trade was officially regulated into the City. Four years later Thomas Strong laid the foundation stone of the new St Paul’s Cathedral and his brother Edward laid the last stone of the building’s lantern in 1708. Both Marshalls and Strongs were Master Masons among a number of other prominent members of the Company who worked on the City’s most beautiful monuments under Sir Christopher Wren. Between 1670 and 1718 at least 8 individuals actively involved in the construction of St Paul’s became Masters of the Masons’ Company."

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Worshipful Company of Masons

Commemorated ati

Masons Hall

On this site stood the hall of the Worshipful Company of Masons.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Worshipful Company of Masons

Creations i

Bench - Mayoralty

Along the front edge of the bench 10 sets of deviders are carved and along th...

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Other Subjects

Worshipful Company of Stationers

Worshipful Company of Stationers

Initially a Guild of Stationers - booksellers who copied, decorated and sold manuscript books. By about 1650 the printers had largely taken over from the manuscript boys. In 1557 they received a...

Group, Liveries & Guilds

3 memorials
Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

1292 -  first reference to ‘Free Fruiterers’.  First charter in 1606.  Their shield shows Adam and Eve with that first piece of fruit.

Group, Commerce, Liveries & Guilds

5 memorials
Clothworkers Company

Clothworkers Company

Their Hall, next to All Hallows Staining, was destroyed in the Great Fire.

Group, Liveries & Guilds

3 memorials
Coachmakers' Hall

Coachmakers' Hall

The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers received their charter in 1677 and initially did not have a hall of their own. Following the Great Fire the Worshipful Company of Scr...

Building, Liveries & Guilds

1 memorial

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Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens

Born, son of Elizabeth and John Dickens, at No.1 Mile End Terrace, Landport, Portsmouth (where there is a museum). For a map showing many of his London addresses see Londonist. His family were so p...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous

51 memorials
Treatment Rooms 2 - Ernesto Guevara

Treatment Rooms 2 - Ernesto Guevara

W5, 199 Acton Lane

Cuba Libre Social Club is restaurant in Poland but we doubt it has donated this plaque.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Courage brewery - Horselydown Lane

Courage brewery - Horselydown Lane

Founded by John Courage at the Anchor Brewhouse site.  The earliest existing building dates from 1871 and was largely rebuilt in 1894 - 1895. Reconstructed, restored and refurbished in 1985 - 1989....

Building, Commerce, Animals, Food & Drink

2 memorials
London Pavilion

London Pavilion

The picture source is a lovely site about the theatre and Arthur Lloyd who performed there.

Building, Theatre

1 memorial