Later History

Religious persecution in Europe in the 16th century brought many foreigners to London, including shoemakers who refused to recognise the authority of the Guild. The position must have been serious in 1514 when the Cordwainers, supported by other leather guilds, put forward a petition to Henry VIII to limit the number of master shoemakers in London. There are reports that the Livery of 140 had been reduced to 20 by 1528.

The Cordwainers, in common with other Livery Companies, found that their problems increased during the reign of James I. The ‘Great Statute of Leather’ dated 1604 defined many trade practices and confirmed the right of search but ended the precious trade monopoly. When Parliament denied him finance, James turned to the Livery Companies for ‘loans’. The practice continued and during the Civil War, the City had to find £10,000 weekly; in 1642 the Cordwainers began to sell their silver and by 1655 brought in severe austerity measures. The Great Fire of 1666 was disastrous as the Company lost not only its Hall but also much of its remaining property. Most of its records were lost, and although the bravery of the Clerk saved many valuables, many had to be sold to enable to Company to survive.

In the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution brought inevitable decline to the guilds’ control of their trades. It was not until late in the 19th century that they began to rediscover their role in education and their value as advisors to their trades.

Cordwainers’ Halls

A small blue plaque in the garden of St. Paul’s Churchyard facing Cannon Street commemorates five Halls built on the same site - a site which had been associated with the Company since 1316. The fifth and last Hall was built in 1909-10 but on the fateful night of 10th May 1941, the building was gutted during the Blitz. The Company gratefully accepted the invitation of its President to use the facilities of the Law Society in Chancery Lane and has continued to do so until the present day.

Education and Training

The Industrial Revolution not only ended the guilds’ control of their trades, it also swept away the apprenticeship system. The Cordwainers’ Company was one of those foresighted enough to promote technical training as a founder member of the City and Guilds Institute in 1878, and then the establishment of the Leather Trades’ School in Bethnal Green in 1887. This became the Cordwainers’ Technical College in 1913 and later the Cordwainers College in Hackney. In addition to comprehensive courses in footwear design and manufacture, instruction was given in design and production of leather goods and saddlery, with students coming not only from the UK but also worldwide. In 2000, the educational provision was transferred to establish the Cordwainers at the London College of Fashion with the saddlery section moving to Capel Manor College, Enfield, both of which the Company still supports. In addition to the support given to these two Colleges, the Company has supported the introduction of footwear courses at the College of Art, University of Northampton and, coinciding with the building of low cost student accommodation in Hackney, established the Cordwainers Educational and Training Charitable Trust in 1995. As well as the provision of accommodation, the Trust will provide for scholarships, bursaries and prizes for students undergoing footwear and associated vocational courses.