About the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters |
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Being a member of a Livery Company provides an enjoyable and rewarding means of experiencing at first hand many aspects of the history and traditions of the City of London, and offers opportunities for participating in the City’s rich pageantry and ceremonial. Liverymen enjoy the privilege of electing the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs, and of attending other formal City events such as the annual United Guilds’ Service in St Paul’s Cathedral. But above all, as a former Lord Mayor wrote recently, “the Livery is a unique philanthropic force without parallel anywhere in the world”. In this respect, the Framework Knitters gives support to a number of charitable undertakings, notably in maintaining Almshouses – the Cottage Homes in Oadby in Leicestershire – for retired knitting industry employees, and in providing educational bursaries and awards to talented students at various UK colleges and universities who are undertaking research projects that may be of benefit to the knitwear and knitting industries. Further details of these are given in the Company’s Charities and Student Bursaries & Awards sections. The Livery also offers the opportunity to enjoy a variety of social activities. The Framework Knitters has four formal dinners a year, giving its Liverymen and their guests the opportunity of dining in some of the most spectacular Livery Halls in the City of London, and sometimes in the Mansion House itself, with the Lord Mayor and/or his Sheriffs. Even so, the Framework Knitters prides itself on being a particularly friendly Company and, in addition to these formal events, offers a variety of interesting social events in both the London and Leicester areas throughout the year organised by its highly pro-active Social Committee. Particularly popular is the annual Leicester Weekend in September, which includes a barbecue at Oadby and a golf tournament. Recent events have included visits to Hampton Court, HMS Belfast and the Royal Opera House, each of which was followed by a lunch, thereby enabling members to socialise with each other on an informal basis. Also, the annual Inter Livery sailing competition is organised by the Company on behalf of the Livery as a whole. |
Membership of the Company is open to anyone over the age of twenty-one, including spouses, partners and other family members of its Liverymen. Indeed, the Framework Knitters was amongst the first of the Livery Companies to welcome women in their own right, and to date the Company has had two Lady Masters. Membership can also bring great networking opportunities for those still practising within the textile trade and for those just wishing to share our fellowship. The Company is one of the Liveries which maintains a close association with its industry, and many of the Company’s Livery of up to 275 men and women have direct connections with the knitting and hosiery industries. Also, the Company itself actively maintains links with other textile-orientated organisations, and supports the City & Guilds initiatives in the textile arena. The Company's records from 1657 to 2002 are deposited in the London Metropolitan Archives, and may be accessed on demand. These records include freemen's lists from 1713; registers of apprentice bindings from 1694; charters; rules and ordinances; Court minute books and financial accounts. Also, the Company maintains a reference library at Corah House, Oadby, which houses a collection of books and journals relating to the history of the Company and its associated industries. Historians, students, and other interested parties are welcome to use the library by pre-arrangement with the Assistant Clerk. A catalogue of books, Journals, and archival material may be obtained on application to: Tel: 0116 271 2171 |