The Worshipful Company of Dyers
First historical mention of the Dyers Company
1188
1188
The Dyers’ Company
Welcome to the website of The Dyers’ Company, one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London.
The Company has encouraged and supported the Craft of dyeing since the 12th century. Its present day activities centre on the continuing development of colour science and the use of colour in textile design through strong educational connections.
Promoting the use of colour across the many different fields of human activity, the Company’s long term aim is to attract new talent into the commercial and academic sectors, and to support the continuing quest for excellence among industry practitioners.
Please take a look at our timeline for a complete history of the Dyers’ Company.
A Moment in History
VIEW FULL TIMELINE
1347
The order to join guilds
The order to join guilds
1347
1349
Appointment of special officers
Appointment of special officers
1349
1388
The 1388 Inquiry
The 1388 Inquiry
1388
1390
Dyers mentioned in Canterbury Tales
Dyers mentioned in Canterbury Tales
1390
1398
The Loving Cup
The Loving Cup
1398
1423
Dyers hire Brewers' Hall
Dyers hire Brewers' Hall
1423
1453
Progress by water
Progress by water
1453
1471
Incorporation of the Company of Dyers
Incorporation of the Company of Dyers
1471
1472
Confirmation of The Dyers Charter of incorporation
Confirmation of The Dyers Charter of incorporation
1472
1474
The first Dyers' Hall at Three Stars
The first Dyers' Hall at Three Stars
1474
1515
Order of Precedence is set
Order of Precedence is set
1515
1516
Controversy and variance in the precedence
Controversy and variance in the precedence
1516
1545
The Dyers' first benefactor, Sir Robert Tyrwhitt
The Dyers' first benefactor, Sir Robert Tyrwhitt
1545
1550
The Royalty of Swans
The Royalty of Swans
1550
1552
Colours fixed by Parliamentary Statute
Colours fixed by Parliamentary Statute
1552
1556
Foreigners admitted
Foreigners admitted
1556
1572
Death and legacy of Sir Robert Tyrwhitt
Death and legacy of Sir Robert Tyrwhitt
1572
1578
Obtaining Ordinances from Queen Elizabeth I
Obtaining Ordinances from Queen Elizabeth I
1578
1578
The coat of arms
The coat of arms
1578
1585
Encampment at Blackheath
Encampment at Blackheath
1585
1586
The Purchase of White Cock
The Purchase of White Cock
1586
1587
The Dyers' Purchase Lands in Dow Gate
The Dyers' Purchase Lands in Dow Gate
1587
1597
Corn supplies
Corn supplies
1597
1609
Swan upping
Swan upping
1609
1609
James I and the Ulster Plantation
James I and the Ulster Plantation
1609
1617
The discreditable Cloth Project
The discreditable Cloth Project
1617
1639
Charitable gifts bequeathed
Charitable gifts bequeathed
1639
1666
The Great Fire and loss of Dyers' records
The Great Fire and loss of Dyers' records
1666
1671
1667 & 1671 Dyers' records
1667 & 1671 Dyers' records
1671
1681
Second Dyers' Hall destroyed by fire
Second Dyers' Hall destroyed by fire
1681
1708
A welcome financial return
A welcome financial return
1708
1715
A private insurrection
A private insurrection
1715
1719
The duty to uphold craft standards
The duty to uphold craft standards
1719
1721
Purchase of further almshouses
Purchase of further almshouses
1721
1722
Steward and Annual Feast
Steward and Annual Feast
1722
1725
Livery List and gift of Swans
Livery List and gift of Swans
1725
1727
Swan Upping and Dinner at Putney Heath
Swan Upping and Dinner at Putney Heath
1727
1729
Condition for Nomination for the Court
Condition for Nomination for the Court
1729
1731
A question of boundaries
A question of boundaries
1731
1735
Austerity and Summons
Austerity and Summons
1735
1738
Additional Almshouses
Additional Almshouses
1738
1768
Loss of Court Room
Loss of Court Room
1768
1770
A new Dyers' Hall
A new Dyers' Hall
1770
1776
The Seal
The Seal
1776
1777
Almspeople moved
Almspeople moved
1777
1779
A government request
A government request
1779
1806
Declining an invitation to Lord Nelson's Funeral
Declining an invitation to Lord Nelson's Funeral
1806
1815
Revival
Revival
1815
1838
Dyers Hall rebuilt
Dyers Hall rebuilt
1838
1841
Change in Almshouses
Change in Almshouses
1841
1841
Gift by Mr George Maguire
Gift by Mr George Maguire
1841
1846
The swans and cygnets
The swans and cygnets
1846
1851
St. Mark’s Hospital
St. Mark’s Hospital
1851
1852
Change of Clerk
Change of Clerk
1852
1854
Gold medals for Prime Wardens
Gold medals for Prime Wardens
1854
1856
Mauveine, the first synthetic dye
Mauveine, the first synthetic dye
1856
1857
Dowgate Hill
Dowgate Hill
1857
1861
Dyers crossing borders
Dyers crossing borders
1861
1862
Aliens Petition
Aliens Petition
1862
1863
Armourers and Braziers
Armourers and Braziers
1863
1875
Severe winter
Severe winter
1875
1877
RSPCA intervention
RSPCA intervention
1877
1878
City & Guilds
City & Guilds
1878
1881
St. Paul’s Great Bell
St. Paul’s Great Bell
1881
1884
Founding of The Society of Dyers & Colourists
Founding of The Society of Dyers & Colourists
1884
1908
Dyers’ Research Medal
Dyers’ Research Medal
1908
1910
Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill
1910
1914
War Gifts
War Gifts
1914
1915
Working for the War Office
Working for the War Office
1915
1932
Gift of Swans to Victoria, B.C.
Gift of Swans to Victoria, B.C.
1932
1936
Almshouses moved to Crawley
Almshouses moved to Crawley
1936
1939
War preparations
War preparations
1939
1940
Dyers’ Hall bombed
Dyers’ Hall bombed
1940
1948
Norwich School
Norwich School
1948
1950
Almshouses
Almshouses
1950
1960
Affiliation with 30th Signals Regiment
Affiliation with 30th Signals Regiment
1960
1987
Naval affiliation with HMS Brilliant
Naval affiliation with HMS Brilliant
1987
1989
Affiliation with 617 Squadron 'Dam Busters'
Affiliation with 617 Squadron 'Dam Busters'
1989
1997
2nd Naval Affiliation HMS Grafton
2nd Naval Affiliation HMS Grafton
1997
1998
The Millennium stained glass window
The Millennium stained glass window
1998
2007
3rd Naval Affiliation HMS Vanguard SSBN
3rd Naval Affiliation HMS Vanguard SSBN
2007
2015
Affiliation with The Queen’s Gurkha Signals
Affiliation with The Queen’s Gurkha Signals
2015
2018
Refurbishment of Dyers Hall
Refurbishment of Dyers Hall
2018
2020
Continuing connection with the Craft of Dyeing
Continuing connection with the Craft of Dyeing
2020
2020
The Dyers' and Covid 19
The Dyers' and Covid 19
2020
2021
Celebrating 550 years with new artwork commissions
Celebrating 550 years with new artwork commissions
2021
2021
Dyers' Hall reopens for business
Dyers' Hall reopens for business
2021
2023
The Dyers' Company form two new ventures
The Dyers' Company form two new ventures
2023
2023
The Dyers' Company receives a new Royal Charter from King Charles III
The Dyers' Company receives a new Royal Charter from King Charles III
2023
2023
Dyers' Swan uppers work under a new monarch
Dyers' Swan uppers work under a new monarch
2023
2024
Phase III of Dyers' Hall renovation begins
Phase III of Dyers' Hall renovation begins
2024
Wardens
The Prime Warden is the Chairman of the Company. He is responsible for steering the deliberations of the Court at their meetings, and during his term of office will represent the Company at a wide range of events, receptions and dinners both in London and throughout the UK.
The Renter Warden is responsible for the ‘house-keeping’ of the Company; he supervises expenditure, oversees the accounts and undertakes an annual audit of the Company’s wine cellars and valuables. He also makes regular visits to the Company Almshouses.
Education
In common with many other London Livery Companies, The Dyers are proud to be associated with a number of schools, both in Inner London and elsewhere. These connections have developed over time and often through the direct connections or good offices of our Prime Wardens.
Swan Upping
The Dyers’ Company and the Vintners’ Company have possessed a Royalty of a Game of Swans on the River Thames for many centuries. Neither Company has a record of the original grant, but certainly since Tudor times the Dyers’ Company, in conjunction with the Monarch and the Vintners’ Company, has supervised the wellbeing of swans on the Thames, and this continues today, most visibly during the annual Swan Upping exercise.
