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Apprenticeship in London and Borough Towns: Difference between revisions
Apprenticeship in London and Borough Towns (view source)
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The old craft and trade guilds in the city originated from groups organised for religious and social purposes that, in the Middle Ages, "adopted" a number of key trades and eventually came to monopolise and regulate them. Nearly all the older guilds obtained royal charters granting incorporation, allowing them to have a common hall and to own land. Their ordinances or by-laws were recognised by the city authorities and allowed them to regulate apprenticeships, prices and wages, to set standards for products and to enforce those standards by carrying out searches for inferior goods, to settle disputes among their members and to maintain a trade monopoly. | The old craft and trade guilds in the city originated from groups organised for religious and social purposes that, in the Middle Ages, "adopted" a number of key trades and eventually came to monopolise and regulate them. Nearly all the older guilds obtained royal charters granting incorporation, allowing them to have a common hall and to own land. Their ordinances or by-laws were recognised by the city authorities and allowed them to regulate apprenticeships, prices and wages, to set standards for products and to enforce those standards by carrying out searches for inferior goods, to settle disputes among their members and to maintain a trade monopoly. | ||
However, with economic and social changes between the 16th and 18th centuries the majority of guilds or companies lost the links with the trades from which they took their names. However, the Watermen and Lightermen still control the apprenticeship of those working on | However, with economic and social changes between the 16th and 18th centuries the majority of guilds or companies lost the links with the trades from which they took their names. However, the Watermen and Lightermen still control the apprenticeship of those working on the River Thames and, in more recent years, many companies have attempted to re-connect themselves with their original trades. They have retained an importance in the city because of their involvement in its government and their charitable work. The last "ancient" company was formed in 1709 but at least a further 25 have been founded since 1940. Many smaller ones disappeared or were amalgamated with others over the years. | ||
== '''Freedom of the Company''' == | == '''Freedom of the Company''' == | ||
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== '''Weakening of orginal system''' == | == '''Weakening of orginal system''' == | ||
In theory no one could work in the city unless they were a | In theory no one could work in the city unless they were a member of one of the companies, but the rule came to be ignored in the 18th century and disappeared in the early 19th century, though it was not abolished until 1856. Even in the 16th and 17th centuries only about 75 per cent of adult male householders in the city were actually company freemen. | ||
It is important to note that from early times the customs of the city allowed any freeman of a trading company to practise the trade of any other company, and that by means of patrimony and redemption anyone could join a company without having learned its trade or craft. A butcher, for instance, could be admitted to the Wheelwrights' Company by patrimony because his father had been a member there. He woud then call himself "Citizen and Wheelwright". His father may have purchased his freedom in that company, not because of its relevance for his trade, but because it was relatively cheap, there being considerable variation in the fees of the different companies. Since the late 18th century some freemen have, in fact, been members of several different companies. | It is important to note that from early times the customs of the city allowed any freeman of a trading company to practise the trade of any other company, and that by means of patrimony and redemption anyone could join a company without having learned its trade or craft. A butcher, for instance, could be admitted to the Wheelwrights' Company by patrimony because his father had been a member there. He woud then call himself "Citizen and Wheelwright". His father may have purchased his freedom in that company, not because of its relevance for his trade, but because it was relatively cheap, there being considerable variation in the fees of the different companies. Since the late 18th century some freemen have, in fact, been members of several different companies. | ||