Armourers' and Braziers' Hall

Armourers' and Braziers' Hall

On the east side of Coleman Street at No. 81, at its junction with London Wall (P.O. Directory). In Coleman Street Ward.

First mention: Elmes, 1831.

Other names and forms of name: "Armorers Hale" on the north side of the Bell in "Colman Streete," 24 Eliz. (1583) (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 57). "Armourers Hall" (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. p. 64). "Braziers Hall" (Horwood, 1799).

The site for the hall was originally acquired in 1428 by the destruction of the Dragon and two shops, and the hall was enlarged 1750 and 1777 (Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. N.S. II. (3), p. 311).

Old Hall designed by W. Creswell. Rebuilt 1840, architect, J. H. Good, junr.

Armourers' and Brasiers' Hall, 81 Coleman Street, City, the corner of London Wall, was erected 1840 from the designs of Mr. J.H. Good jun., architect, on the site of the old Hall of the Armourers; a Company incorporated by Henry VI., in 1453, by the name and designation of "The Brothers and Sisters of the Fraternity or Guild of St. George of the Mistery of the Armourers of the City of London." The Company, however, is believed to have been founded before the beginning of the 14th century, for records are in existence showing that at that time (1307–1327) the Company had vested in it the right of search of armour and weapons. About the year 1515 the craft of Blacksmiths was incorporated with the Company of Armourers. The Company of Brasiers, which is believed to have been originally incorporated by Edward IV. about 1479, was joined with the Armourers in 1708. In the Hall is Northcote's well-known picture of The Entry into London of Richard II. and Bolingbroke. The old plate of the Armourers is hardly to be surpassed by that of any of the great Companies of London. Observe—a maser inscribed "Edward Frere gave the Maser," etc. (1579); silver gilt cup inscribed "Pra fir John Richmond;" six pounced wine cups, the gift, in 1633, of Gawen Helme; 72 very large table spoons; the Dixon Cup of 1598, and the Mexfield Cup of 1608. In the Horse Armoury at the Tower is a noble suit of armour, richly gilt, made and presented, it is said, by the Company to Charles I. when Prince of Wales. The records of the Company are silent on the subject.

Armourers' and Braziers' Hall, is at the north-east corner of Coleman-street and London-wall. It is a plain substantial brick building, with an attached portico of the Doric order. It was designed by the late Mr. William Creswell. The hall for the meeting of the company is a spacious plain room, ornamented with a fine picture by James Northcote, Esq. R.A., of the entry of Richard II. and Bolinbroke, afterwards Henry IV., into London. This picture was purchased by the Company, on the dispersion of Boydell's Shakspeare Gallery in May, 1825. The company was incorporated by king Henr yVI., about the year 1423, by the title of "The Master and Wardens, Brothers and Sisters of the Fraternity or Guild of St. George, of the men of the mystery of the Armourers of the City of London." The same king also became one of the members. To this company, which formerly made coats of mail, is united that of the Braziers, and they are jointly governed by a master, two wardens, and twenty-one assistants. It is the twenty-second in rank among the livery companies, or the tenth after the twelve chief or principal companies.