Freemen of the Company

This month the Clerk will be conducting ceremonies to admit nine new Freemen of the Brewers’ Company.

On their path to becoming Liverymen of the Brewers’ Company, individuals must first be admitted to the Freedom of the Company and then to the Freedom of the City of London. Only then can they be admitted to the Livery and become an active member of the Company.

Why is being a Freeman important? Livery Companies in the City of London originate from the medieval trade guilds which were established to regulate particular crafts. Guilds supervised the training of apprentices, controlled standards of craftsmanship and protected craftsmen from unfair competition. They also provided financial support to their members in old age and in times of poverty and bereavement.

During the 15th century the right to wear a livery became restricted to an economic and social elite with each Company, known as the livery. Membership of the livery soon also acquired political significance since it became the franchise qualification for electing the City’s Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and certain other officers, as well as its Members of Parliament. The latter is no longer the case (not since the Representation of the People Act 1918) but members of the Livery continue to elect the other roles.

To proceed to the livery you are required to obtain the Freedom of the City (and in turn, to gain Freedom of the City you need to have been admitted to the Freedom of one of the City Livery Companies). Until the mid-19th century you had to be a Freeman of the City to trade or practice your craft within the square mile.

Although these historical benefits are no longer relevant today, the City Livery Companies still maintain the same membership structures which require an individual to pass through the various steps in order: Freeman of the Company -> Freeman of the City -> Liveryman of the Company.