It is the co-sponsor of Drapers' Academy, which uses a similar logo. 1364 received a Royal Charter.

In line with Government guidance we have now reduced Company activity to a minimum until such time as the situation returns to normal. 1438 incorporated as a company under a Royal Charter and was the first corporate body to be granted a coat of arms 1607 acting charter granted by James I amended by four supplemental charters, most recently in 2008. It has the formal name The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London. The company's archives, works of art, silver and artefacts are in the care of the archivist. It also administers three almshouses: Queen Elizabeth College Greenwich, Edmanson's Close Tottenham and Walter's Close Southwark. Drapers' Company is based at Drapers' Hall located in Throgmorton Avenue, near London Wall. Cromwell had been attainted and executed in 1540. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (who was elected to the Court of Assistants in 2017, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her membership of the Company), King Harald V of Norway, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Gloucester, Admiral Lord Boyce, and Lady Victoria Leatham (who was elected the first female Master of the company in 2012) are among the many distinguished current members of the company. It has evolved into an organisation that addresses contemporary issues, gaining a new relevance through its philanthropic role. More usually known simply as the Drapers' Company, it is one of the historic Great Twelve Livery Companies and was founded during the Middle Ages.[1].

There is also a collection of paintings, mostly of former members. Despite these changes, the drapers retain the Blessed Virgin Mary as their patron saint.

Over one hundred Lord Mayors have been members of the company; the first, Henry Fitz-Ailwyn, is thought to have been a draper. [5][6] Groups may book a guided tour of Drapers' Hall; a donation to the company's charitable work is requested. The Company was established in 1361.

[citation needed] The majority of drapers lived in and around Cornhill, Candlewick Street (now Cannon Street) and Chepe (Cheapside).
An informal association of drapers had organized as early as 1180, and the first (Lord) Mayor of London in 1189, Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone, was believed to have been a Draper. More usually known simply as the Drapers' Company, it is one of the historic Great Twelve Livery Companies and was founded during the Middle Ages.

Drapers’ Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2DQ T: 020 7588 5001 F: 020 7588 5540 E: mail@thedrapers.co.uk The Company has owned the site since 1543, when it purchased the London mansion of Thomas Cromwell from King Henry VIII. The organisation was formally founded in 1361; it received a Royal Charter three years later. The company has owned the site since 1543, when it purchased the London mansion of Thomas Cromwell, of Austin Friars, from King Henry VIII. It was incorporated as a company under a Royal Charter in 1438 and was the first corporate body to be granted a coat of arms. The hall includes four finely decorated main rooms used for the company's functions. The charter gave the company perpetual succession and a common seal. Founded over 600 years ago, the Drapers’ Company is incorporated by Royal Charter and is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies in the City of London. The hall survived the Blitz during the Second World War. Both schools were independent and separate institutions but the Company still has a representative in the governing body of the former. During the Plantation of Ulster, the company held land around Moneymore and Draperstown in County Londonderry. The acting charter of today is that granted by James I in 1607, amended by four supplemental charters, most recently in 2008. The Court of Assistants is its governing body.[2]. Over the centuries the original privileges granted by Royal Charter have been confirmed and amended by successive monarchs.

https://london.wikia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Drapers?oldid=38306. Over one hundred Lord Mayors have been members of the Company; the first, Henry Fitzailwyn, is thought to have been a draper.

Amongst the royalty who have been members of the company, four had not been expected to become a monarch at the time of their birth but were later crowned: Other well-known members have included Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, Sir Francis Drake, Admiral Lord Nelson and Grinling Gibbons. The building was destroyed in the Great Fire of London and rebuilt to designs by Edward Jarman.

It has been one of the most powerful companies in London politics. Further extensive alterations were made in the 19th century. Its motto is Unto God Only Be Honour and Glory.

This has included providing the site and some of the buildings of Queen Mary University of London, the library at Bangor University, and the site and the original nineteenth-century buildings of Bancroft's School. The Drapers' Company continues to play a role in the life of the City. Originally, the organisation was a trade association of wool and cloth merchants. 1438 incorporated as a company under a Royal Charter and was the first corporate body to be granted a coat of arms. There had been an association of drapers as early as 1180. It has the formal name The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London. The largest room is the Livery Hall, which can accommodate up to 276 guests for dinner. The Company founded two girls' schools: in Llandaff and Denbigh, Wales, using the endowment of Welsh merchant Thomas Howell, who bequeathed a sum of money to the foundation. It has the formal name The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London. The Drapers' Company is based at Drapers' Hall located in Throgmorton Street, near London Wall. The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 110 livery companies of the City of London. Possibly it was for this reason that their allegiance was transferred to St Mary le Bow in Cheapside and later to St Michael, Cornhill, where the company continues to worship today. The company also has close links with some eighteen other educational establishments, ranging from Oxbridge colleges to a primary school. Researchers may view its collections by appointment. In the meantime we do hope you are all safe and well. Staff are still contactable by email or phone. It provides the chairman and four other governors of Bancroft's School, who use the Drapers' coat of arms and motto. It is ranked at third in the order of precedence of the Livery Companies . After another fire in 1772, it was rebuilt again.

Its liverymen carry out important functions in the elections of the governance of the City and its offices.

It administers charitable trusts relating to relief of need, education and almshouses; it provides banqueting and catering services; and it fosters its heritage and traditions of good fellowship. One of the Livery Companies of the City of London.

Coordinates: 51°30′54″N 0°05′12″W / 51.51506°N 0.08654°W / 51.51506; -0.08654, Learn how and when to remove this template message, William (III & II) of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, George VI, King of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, "Drapers' Company - Livery Companies of the City of London", Category:Organisations based in the City of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, History of Queen Mary University of London, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Worshipful_Company_of_Drapers&oldid=962177520, Articles needing additional references from May 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2013, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 June 2020, at 14:57. The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 110 livery companies of the City of London. 1607 acting charter granted by James I amended by four supplemental charters, most recently in 2008.
The brotherhood of drapers, a religious fraternity attached to the church of St Mary Bethlehem in Bishopsgate, was founded in honour of the Virgin Mary by "good people Drapers of Cornhill and other good men and women" for the amendment of their lives. The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 110 livery companies of the City of London.