Details of the opinicus, and larger photo
www.barberscompany.org   

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BARBERS

Barber-Surgeons' Hall, Monkwell Square, Wood Street, London EC2Y 5BL

Clerk:  Colonel Peter J Durrant MBE  BA
Email to the Clerk; the Assistant Clerk,  Beadle; the Archivist; Webmaster
Telephone (020) 7606-0741
Fax (020) 7606-3857
Hall Hirings (020) 7334 3980

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Company Treasures - The Charter Book

The Company of Barbers and Surgeons purchased this vellum (calfskin) book in February 1604/5 for the ‘entering and fayre ingrosing of our charters of this Company.’ This title page shows the arms of the King, James I of England, at the top.  The middle panel shows the crest of the Barbers Company and reads: 

"This book conteyneth all the Charters which hath bene graunted from the kinges of this realme unto the Company of Barbors & Surgeons of London And also all Acts of Parliament and common Councells which have bene marked & ordeyned for & concerninge the said Company As also all such Ordinances as have bene by the righte honourable the Lord Chancellor Lord Threasorer & Lord Chief Justice of England ratiefied to the said Companie And was begunne in the tyme of Mr John Laycock Christopher Frederick Thomas Martin and Richard Mapes Masters or Governors of the said Companie in Anno Dm 1605"

The four panels containing initials and a pictogram represent the above named Master and Wardens.  From left to right: IL stands for John Laycock, the Master, who is represented by the rebus of a cockerel.  TM stands for Thomas Marten who is represented by the rebus of a pine marten.  RM is for Richard Mapes whose chosen symbols are a tree and a hand.  CF is for Christopher Frederick whose symbol is a green scaled arm clutching a spiked cudgel.

 The Charter Book

Christmas 2009
St Giles The lesson Sir William Slack
Entertainment Entertainment On 15th December 2009 the Company had its annual carol service, followed by dinner with entertainment.

On 13th August 2009 the Court elected the new Master and wardens

 The Master and Wardens  
The New Master heads the procession back to the Hall The new Mistress Barber receives her badge The Master takes wine after the Garlanding  
On 30 September, the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Hall after its rebuilding was celebrated at a joint Barbers' Evening and Historical Group meeting.  Three presentations covered the preparations for war with the removal of the treasures, the devastation and period during which the Company had no Hall, and the rebuilding.  The Archivist produced much background information and during the evening past masters Sir Barry Jackson and William Shand presented the Company with paintings of Christopher Frederick and Sir John Frederick his son (respectively), two past masters of the Company, bought at auction.  
Sir Barry Jackson William Shand The Master  

   

A great day for the Barbers' Company Cutter at the Great River Race - 5 September 2009
Barbers afloat Barbers afloat

 

The Historical Group visited the Temple Church on 9 June - photo

 

The Company has close links with the Royal College of Surgeons of England.  Indeed until the two organisations split, in the Eighteenth Century, the two were united.  Hence the Company's Hall is Barber-Surgeons' Hall.  Our site contains information about the Company, past and present, its Master, Wardens, Court of Assistants and Officers, and its programme.  It covers our hall and its treasures, and links to other sites.  Although this is the official site of the Company, not all the information will have been cleared by the Company though much has been derived from its official publications. 

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