The Various Guilds

  • 15 Jan 2025
  • Trade and Industry
  • Back

The ancient Guilds in the City were very strong. Their restrictions had driven the Cloth Trade out of the City; the carpe trade to Kidderminster, the needlers to Redditch, and was resisting combination moves in the gloving trade. In June 1807, the Master Glovers met to resist a combination of Grounders, Stoners, and White Leather Parers to obtain an advance in wages. 56 firms, including John Dent, signed a declaration of resistance.          An earlier Guild ordinance ordered that 'craft pageants' were to be more strictly kept, and that labourers are to stand for hire at the Grass Cross at 5am in Summer and 6am in Winter