Worshipful Company of Cutlers
Encyclopedia
The Worshipful Company of Cutlers is one of the Livery Companies
of the City of London
. The trade of knife making and repairing was organised in the thirteenth century; the organisation received a Royal Charter
later in 1416. The Company has lost a strong connection to its trade, which shifted north to Sheffield
, Yorkshire
, where there is a similar association, the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
. Thus, it remains primarily as a charitable institution. It funds and administers a variety of educational initiatives such as scholarships and awards.
The Company ranks eighteenth in the order of precedence
of Livery Companies.
Arms were first granted to the Company in 1476. The current elephant and castle crest was granted in 1622. It features two elephants and three crossed-swords, a helmet and a smaller elephant and castle. The original blazon
reads: "Gules, three pairs of swords in saltire argent, hilts and pommels or Crest: An elephant's head couped gules, armed or". The elephant probably relates to the ivory used in hafting swords, knives and other weapons - an expensive material employed for the best of implements.
The elephant and castle crest gave rise to a pub of the same name on the site of an old cutler's in Newington, London
, which in turn gave its name to the entire area, the Elephant and Castle
.
The Company's motto
was originally "Pervenir a bonne foy", which later became "Pour parvenir a bonne foy", an Anglo-Norman
phrase meaning "To succeed through good faith."
The present hall of the company is in Warwick Lane, on a site once occupied by the Royal College of Physicians
. It was designed by T. Tayler Smith, the company’s Surveyor, and opened in 1888. It is a brick building, the facade decorated with a terracotta frieze depicting the processes of knife-making by the sculptor Benjamin Creswick
, who had worked as a knife grinder in Sheffield.
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. The trade of knife making and repairing was organised in the thirteenth century; the organisation received a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
later in 1416. The Company has lost a strong connection to its trade, which shifted north to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, where there is a similar association, the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire is a trade guild of metalworkers based in Sheffield, England. It was incorporated in 1624 by an Act of parliament. The head is called the Master Cutler...
. Thus, it remains primarily as a charitable institution. It funds and administers a variety of educational initiatives such as scholarships and awards.
The Company ranks eighteenth in the order of precedence
Order of precedence
An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of items. Most often it is used in the context of people by many organizations and governments...
of Livery Companies.
Arms were first granted to the Company in 1476. The current elephant and castle crest was granted in 1622. It features two elephants and three crossed-swords, a helmet and a smaller elephant and castle. The original blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
reads: "Gules, three pairs of swords in saltire argent, hilts and pommels or Crest: An elephant's head couped gules, armed or". The elephant probably relates to the ivory used in hafting swords, knives and other weapons - an expensive material employed for the best of implements.
The elephant and castle crest gave rise to a pub of the same name on the site of an old cutler's in Newington, London
Newington, London
Newington is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It was an ancient parish and the site of the early administration of the county of Surrey...
, which in turn gave its name to the entire area, the Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle
The Elephant and Castle is a major road intersection in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is also used as a name for the surrounding area....
.
The Company's motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
was originally "Pervenir a bonne foy", which later became "Pour parvenir a bonne foy", an Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman language
Anglo-Norman is the name traditionally given to the kind of Old Norman used in England and to some extent elsewhere in the British Isles during the Anglo-Norman period....
phrase meaning "To succeed through good faith."
The present hall of the company is in Warwick Lane, on a site once occupied by the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
. It was designed by T. Tayler Smith, the company’s Surveyor, and opened in 1888. It is a brick building, the facade decorated with a terracotta frieze depicting the processes of knife-making by the sculptor Benjamin Creswick
Benjamin Creswick
-Life:Benjamin Creswick was born in Sheffield, the son of a spectacle-maker. He started his working life as a knife-grinder, but took up sculpture with the encouragement of John Ruskin. In 1887 he modelled a terracotta frieze showing the processes of knife-grinding for the exterior of Cutlers'...
, who had worked as a knife grinder in Sheffield.