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History of the Livery
1600's
Guild of Fan Makers petition to Parliament - 1670
Date on Company Mace - 1697
1800 - 1850
Company granted livery of 60 on the 20th of June by the Court of Aldermen - 1809
Entertained the Lord Mayor for the first time - 1846
1880 - 1900
Sir James Whitehead became the first Fan Maker to become Lord Mayor - 1888
The prize-winning fan from the Company’s exhibition was presented by the Fan Maker’s Company to Queen Victoria to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee - 1897
Sir Alfred Newton becomes the second
Fan Maker to be elected Lord Mayor - 1899
1910 - 1920
The Company presented a Honiton lace fan to Queen Mary on the Coronation of George V - 1910
Wardens’ Badges of Office presented to the Company - 1915
Cook Fund established to benefit
Liverymen of the Fan Makers in need - 1917
Freedom of the Company presented to The Rt
Hon Lord Morris for services to the British Empire - 1918
1930 - 1940
Sir Stephen Killik elected fifth Lord Mayor, Inauguration of the Latchford Prize Competition - 1934
Master Heywood presented a fan to Queen Elizabeth for her coronation with George VI - 1937
Air conditioning recognised by the company as a modern form of the craft of fan making - 1939
1950 - 1960
The Poor Fund was instituted by Trust Deed for the relief of poverty - 1951
Church Hall of St Botolph Without, Bishopsgate, restored and opened on 23rd October - 1952
Master George Pykett MC presented to Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation a specially commissioned fan - 1953
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester became the first member of the Royal Family to dine with the Company - 1956
Company celebrated its 250th Anniversary of Charter at the Fishmongers’ Hall and the Mansion House attended by TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucestery - 1959
1970 - 1980
HRH The Prince and Princess Richard of Gloucester attend the Annual Livery Banquet at the Mansion House - 1972
Fan Makers’ Charitable Trust Fund established - 1973
HRH The Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, presents 30 fans to the Company collection - 1974
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester (formerly Princess Richard of Gloucester) received the Honorary Freedom of the Company on 10th April. The Fan Circle International inaugurated at the Fan Makers’ Hall - 1975
1990 - 2000
Letters Patent issued for the Company’s
Coat of Arms - 1991
Company moved to Skinners’ Hall in Dowgate Hill - 1992
Elizabeth Lansbury Nursery School adopted by the Company - 1993
HMS Westminster adopted by the Company - 1994
Sophie Rhys-Jones received a special edition of the Company’s Millennium fan and an 18th century silk fan with ivory sticks on her marriage to Prince Edward - 1999
2010 - 2020
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge presented with a fan by Master Jim Moore following her marriage to
Prince William - 2012
Her Majesty the Queen presented with an English fan made to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee (as did Queen Victoria in 1897) - 2012
Mrs Judith Mosely became the first female to be appointed to the Court of Assistants - 2017
1700's
1709 - Charter granted on 19th April by Queen Anne
1710 - Company's Hall in Red Cross Street
1711 - Drawing up of (failed) By-laws
1726 - Silver fan added to Company Mace
1741 - By-laws revised
1747 - First extant records
1759 - Company Arms added to the Mace
1775 - Earliest surviving Minute Book
1850 - 1880
1870 - The first competitive exhibition of fans, under Queen Victoria’s patronage at South Kensington Museum. Also a period of low interest in the Company due to declining trade caused by foreign competition
1877 - Rebirth of the Company under Master Sir Homewood Crawford Banner of Company Arms presented
1878 - Master’s Badge purchased by the Court Company Seal presented Second competitive exhibition of fans at the Drapers’ Hall
1879 - Permission granted by the Court of Aldermen to increase the Livery Company from 60 to 100
1900 - 1910
1902 - Presentation of fan to Queen Alexandra on 24th June on her Coronation
1904 - Sir John Pound becomes third Fan Maker to be elected Lord Mayor
1907 - Sir John Bell becomes fourth Fan Maker to become Lord Mayor
1920 - 1930
1926 - Honorary Freedom of the Company presented to HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Mary
1940 - 1950
1944 - St Dionis Hall, Lime Street, first used as the Company Hall
1945 - Sir Charles Davis elected as the Company’s sixth Lord Mayor
1946 - First presentation of a fan to the Lord Mayor’s Lady
1947 - An antique fan was presented at Buckingham Palace to Princess Elizabeth
1948 - Honorary Freedom of the Company presented to HRH Princess Alice, The Duchess of Gloucester
1960 - 1970
1960 - A fan was presented to Princess Margaret on her marriage to the Earl of Snowden. Gowns for the Master and Wardens presented to the Company
1963 - Burglary at the Hall resulted in the loss of Princess Alice’s fans (inherited from Princess Louise)
1966 - Increase in the Livery from 200 to 250 granted
1968 - Ladies permitted to attend the Annual Livery Dinner, at the Mansion House, for the first time. Past Master Hector Young initiated the Hector Young Fund
1980 - 1990
1981 - Lady Diana Spencer received a fan on her marriage to the Prince of Wales
1985 - Presentation to Diana, Princess of Wales, as special guest at the Mansion House dinner
1986 - Presentation to Miss Sara Ferguson on her marriage to Prince Andrew, the Duke of York
1988 - 217 (London) Field Squadron Royal Engineers adopted by the Company. The first traditional fan maker for at least 60 years is admitted to the Freedom and the Livery
2000 - 2010
2000 - Millennium Exhibition
2005 - HRH The Duchess of Gloucester is clothed as the first Lady Liveryman in modern times
2006 - Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall presented with a fan by Master Tony O’Hagan following her marriage to the Prince of Wales
2009 - The Company celebrated the 300th anniversary of the granting of its Royal Charter
2020 - Present
2021 - Skinners' Hall closed for major refurbishment. The Company office moved to Saddlers' Hall
2023 - HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, Liveryman of the Company received the Platinum Jubilee fan commissioned to mark the 70th anniversary of the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth
2024 - HM The Queen clothed as an Honorary Liveryman of the Company at Clarence House
2024 - New military affiliations signed with HMS Glasgow and 846 Squadron Naval Air Squadron follwoing the decomissioning of HMS Westminster
2025 - Signed the Armed Forces Covenant
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