Our History

The Beginning

The Salters' Company celebrated its Sexcentenary in 1994 and is one of twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. The livery companies originated in the trades or 'misteries' (Fr. métiers) of medieval London; the Salters' Company, like most of the other ancient companies, had its beginning as a religious fraternity.

King Richard II

Exactly when the fraternity was first established is unknown, but it was certainly in existence early in the fourteenth century. In 1394 a licence was obtained from King Richard II to found a Fraternity and Guild of Corpus Christi in the Church of All Hallows, Bread Street, and to convey property to the Fraternity. At that time, the Fraternity was composed entirely of those who followed the trade of Salter whether or not they lived within the parish, but over the years membership has expanded to include many other professions.

Subsequently, licences were obtained from King Edward IV in 1467 and from King Henry VIII in 1510. Finally, in 1559, a Charter of Incorporation was obtained from Queen Elizabeth. A further Charter was granted by King James I in 1607 reincorporating the Company under its present name of 'The Master, Wardens and Commonalty of the Art or Mistery of the Salters of London' and giving it additional powers of jurisdiction over all freemen exercising the Art of Salter in the City and its suburbs and within two miles thereof. It gave the Court of Assistants of the Company powers of 'survey, search, correction and governance over all freemen of the Company using the Mistery and also over all wares exposed to sale in any way concerning the Mistery and to correct the weights and measures used by the Mistery' within the area. In 1684 the Company was compelled to surrender the Charter of King James I and was granted a new Charter reaffirming its powers and privileges while reserving to the Crown a large measure of control. The Charter was annulled on the accession to the throne of King William III and Queen Mary II in 1689.