MERCHANT TAYLORS' COMPANY
One of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London
Merchant Taylors’ Company is a flourishing community dedicated to fellowship, education, and philanthropy
Rooted in History, Driven by Purpose
The Merchant Taylors’ Company began as the regulator and trade guild for tailoring and its allied crafts in medieval London. As the world evolved, so too did the Company. Today, it stands as a dynamic grant-making organisation, where members unite to make a meaningful difference through volunteering, fundraising, and offering their time and expertise to causes that create lasting, transformative impact.
Creating Change That Endures
Merchant Taylors is committed to driving positive change. We work closely with charities and community organisations to support initiatives that uplift lives and strengthen communities. Discover how we collaborate with partners to make a difference.
Empowering Through Education
From individual scholarships and bursaries to programme sponsorships and support for further education, we believe in the power of learning to unlock potential. Learn more about how we help individuals thrive through education.
A Living Legacy
With a heritage that spans centuries—surviving fires, wars, political upheavals, and plagues—the Merchant Taylors’ Company remains a vibrant, forward-looking community. Our members are deeply engaged in every aspect of Company life, united by a shared history and a unique connection to the City of London and beyond.
Connect with us on social media
The place to find our latest news
Last week, we welcomed students from St Saviour’s & St Olave’s School and @merchanttaylorsschool to the Hall for our Schools’ History Evening. The students explored the Hall, visiting the oldest working kitchens in the City and seeing some extraordinary pre-Great Fire architectural survivals. Pupils carefully handled and deciphered some of our precious archives and collection, practicing skills of primary source analysis to unpick hidden histories through the use of material culture. We closed the evening by considering how primary sources would be helpful to the students in their future studies. A big thank you to all our membership volunteers for making the evening possible.
Last week, we had the honour of hosting the Billesden Award Dinner, a time-honoured tradition faithfully observed since 1484, celebrating peace and fellowship between the Merchant Taylors’ Company and @theskinnerscompany. In the first year of King Richard III, weary of ongoing disputes, the Masters, Wardens, and fellowship of both Companies agreed to submit their quarrel to arbitration by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Robert Billesden. His wise decree established a lasting tradition: Each Company would host the other for dinner once a year — the Skinners on the Vigil of Corpus Christi, and the Merchant Taylors on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. As for precedence, it was decided that the Companies would alternate seniority each year - a gesture of mutual respect that endures to this day. A beautiful reminder that even the most enduring rivalries can be reconciled over a shared table. #Tradition #AttentionToDetail #FineDining #BillesdenDinner #HistoricCelebration
