History
The Company records an unbroken existence for 750 years – although undoubtedly it existed earlier – having received its first Royal Charter in 1272. A predecessor guild was fined as ''wikt:adulterine, adulterine'' in 1154. It took the name Stock Fishmongers' Company under another Royal Charter granted in 1508. Then, in 1537, it merged with the Salt Fishmongers' Company to form the Company with its present name. The most famous City fishmonger is William Walworth, Sir William Walworth, who, as Lord Mayor of the City of London, Lord Mayor of London in 1381, helped bring the Peasants' Revolt to an end by stabbing the rebel Wat Tyler to death at Smithfield, London, Smithfield in the presence of Richard II of England, King Richard II. In 1383, Lord Mayor John Comberton de Northampton (a Draper) persuaded the City of London Corporation, City Common Council to declare that the Fishmongers should no longer have the power to monopolise trade in fish, and this was reaffirmed by Parliament. However, in a Royal Charter granted to the Fishmongers by Richard II in 1399, all their privileges were restored. The same Charter states they should elect six Wardens annually, the number which continues to the present day. Until the end of the 14th century the Fishmongers convened their own court of law, called ''Leyhalmode'', at which disputes over fish and seafood trade were tried by the Wardens of the Company. From 1555 to the present day, the Company has acted as Trustee of Gresham's School at Holt, Norfolk. In the early 17th century, the Company was granted lands at Ballykelly, County Londonderry, Ballykelly and Banagher, County Londonderry, Banagher in modern-day Northern Ireland, by the Crown. It remained a major landowner there until the 20th century, and the villages contain some of the most interesting buildings erected in Ulster by the Plantation of Ulster, Plantation companies. In 1714, the Irish actor Thomas Doggett provided money to endow a boat race called Doggett's Coat and Badge, Doggett's Coat and Badge Race in honour of the new king, George I of Great Britain, George I of Hanover. The race was originally to be rowed annually on 1 August on the River Thames, by up to six young watermen per boat who were not to be out of their apprenticeship by more than twelve months. The prize for the champion oarsman is a fine red coat embellished with a large silver badge on one arm, depicting the White Horse of Hanover with the word 'liberty' underneath. Since Doggett's death, the Fishmongers' Company continues to organise this event each year, and it is now believed to be the world's longest continuously-running sporting event as well as being the longest boat race in the world – 4 miles, 5 furlongs (7,400 m). By the 18th century, references to fish were hard to find in the Fishmongers' Company Court minutes, since the Company's main business had evolved into managing its extensive properties and administering its charities and trusts, such as Gresham's School as well as St Peter's Hospital (Newington), St Peter's Hospital and almshouses at Newington, London, Newington in Surrey.Functions
The Company is governed by its Prime Warden, five other Wardens and its Court of Assistants, comprising 28 appointed Livery members. In its early history, the Company established a monopoly over the sale of fish in the City of London and its environs. Although government legislation over the years has reduced such trade restrictions, the Company is still tasked with the important role of overseeing the quality of fish imported into the City, mostly via Billingsgate Market, the UK's largest fish market. This responsibility is undertaken by the Company's Quality control, fishmeters (inspectors) under powers established by a Royal Charter of James I of England, James I in 1604. The Company is closely involved with monitoring salmon and fresh water fishing as well as the catching of shellfish throughout UK waters. It encourages research through grants and sponsorship and also publishes books on fish, such as ''Fish and Shellfish'' and ''The Fishmongers' Company Cook Book''. Thus, the Company retains many of its ancient trade duties, unlike some other Livery Companies, whose trades having become defunct through technological advances, act for the most part as charitable benefactors or ceremonial institutions. The Fishmongers' Company is also a significant educational charity. As well as Gresham's School, it has also long supported the City and Guilds of London Art School and the City and Guilds of London Institute. The Company comprises about 300 members, including a good representation of working fishmongers. Liverymen of all City companies are members of Guildhall, London, Common Hall which entitles them to vote each year in the election of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, held on Michaelmas Day (29 September) or the closest weekday, and also in the election of the Sheriffs of the City of London, Sheriffs of London on Midsummer's Day. Voting is by show of hands, but should one liveryman call for a recount, a ballot is held two weeks later.Hall
The Company's livery hall in the City of London is known as Fishmongers' Hall (sometimes shortened in common parlance to Fish Hall); its earliest recorded hall was built in 1310. A new hall, on the present site, was bequeathed to the Company in 1434. Together with 43 other Livery halls, this one was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and a replacement hall designed by the architect Edward Jerman opened in 1671. This hall by Jerman was demolished to facilitate the construction of the new London Bridge in 1827. The Fishmongers' next hall was designed by Henry Roberts (architect), Henry Roberts (although his assistant, later the celebrated George Gilbert Scott, Sir Gilbert Scott, made the drawings) and built by William Cubitt (politician), William Cubitt & Company, opening in 1834. After severe bomb damage during the Blitz, Fishmongers' Hall was restored by Austen Hall (of Whinney, Son & Austen Hall) and reopened in 1951.Gresham's School
Since 1555, the Company has acted as the Trustee of Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk, in accordance with the wishes of Lord Mayor John Gresham, Sir John Gresham (1492–1556). Among other responsibilities, the Company provides more than half of the school's governors, including the chairman of the governing body, which meets at Fishmongers' Hall. In 1729, the Fishmongers' Company presented the school with "...a valuable and useful library, not only of the best editions of the Classics and Lexicographers, but also with some books of Antiquities, Chronology, and Geography, together with a suitable pair of globes". In May 1926, in accepting membership of the Company by right of patrimony, the future George VI of the United Kingdom, King George VI said: "I hope that it may be possible for me, at some future date, to prove my interest by personally visiting Gresham's School, of which I have frequently heard such excellent accounts".List of Prime Wardens
*''c.'' 1370: William Walworth, Sir William Walworth *1664: Abraham Johnson *1676: William Allington *1721–22: Fryer baronets, Sir John Fryer *1810–12: Richard Sharp (politician), Richard "Conversation" Sharp, MP *1834–36: Sir Matthew Wood, 1st Baronet, Sir Matthew Wood *1863–64: William Cubitt (politician), William Cubitt (''et al.'' George Cubitt, 1st Baron Ashcombe) *1874–75: William Lawrence *1880-81: Jethro Hornblower *1883–84: List of Lord Mayors of London, Thomas Dakin, Lord Mayor *1887–88: Andrew Lusk, Sir Andrew Lusk *1888–89: Sir James Lawrence, 1st Baronet, James Clarke Lawrence *1893-94: John Warren, 3rd Baron de Tabley, John Warren *1899-1900: Sir Richard Martin, 1st Baronet, of Overbury Court, Richard Biddulph Martin *1901–02: George Frederick Bodley *1902: Edward Rawlings *1921-22: Lothian Demain Nicholson *1925-26: Lothian Demain Nicholson *1961–62: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh *1969–70: Sir John Carew Pole, 12th Baronet, Sir John Carew Pole'CAREW POLE, Col. Sir John (Gawen)', in ''Who Was Who'' (London: A. & C. Black, 1920–2008Company Church
* St Magnus the MartyrArms
See also
*Fishmonger *Shellfish Association of Great Britain *Gresham College *Livery CompanySources
External links
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