The Worshipful Company of Scriveners

The present Company of Scriveners is forty-fourth in order of precedence of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Its formal establishment as a corporate body governed by ordinances granted by the Mayor and Aldermen of London dates from 26 September 1373. These mediaeval regulations and ordinances for the governance of the Scriveners Company (as for all other Livery Companies) were to ensure the integrity in business, and the competence in practice, of those engaged in the craft thus strengthening their position and enhancing the confidence of members of the public using their services. Notaries appear as members of the Company from 1392 onwards, when it issued new ordinances to coincide with the appointment by the Archbishop of Canterbury as Papal Legate of laymen as papal and imperial notaries.

Latest News

THE QUILL PEN LUNCH 2022

At the annual Quill Pen Lunch held at the Mansion House on 29 November 2022, the Master, Professor Mark Watson-Gandy CStJ, presented the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, with the quill pen with which he signed himself into office and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Felicity Lyons, with a Scriveners’ fountain pen. The Master presented a donation to the Lord Mayor’s charities on behalf of the Scriveners Company.

THE LORD MAYOR’S SHOW 2022

2022 saw the first ever Senior Livery Companies Float in the Lord Mayor’s Show. The Scriveners Company was proudly represented by the Master,
Professor Mark Watson-Gandy and the Immediate Past Master, Mr Barry Theobald-Hicks of Danbury.

HMS PORTLAND

Thanks to the hard work and initiative of Liveryman Andrew Cross, the Commanding Officer of our affiliated ship HMS Portland, Commander Tim Leeder Royal Navy recently visited us on board HQS WELLINGTON and presented the Company with a splendid hand-painted ship’s crest which will be hung up in a place of honour in our office. Commander Leeder also presented two bottles of HMS PORTLAND’s own beer, Portland Pride, to the Company! It is based on the traditional Royal Navy CSB and is only available through the ship. The visit to the Company was reciprocated on 17 November when a party of Scriveners were invited to spend a splendid day at sea on board HMS Portland. The party was looked after fantastically well by Ship’s Heads of Department and the sailors could not have been more hospitable or informative.

HMS PORTLAND

Thanks to the hard work and initiative of Liveryman Andrew Cross, the Commanding Officer of our affiliated ship HMS Portland, Commander Tim Leeder Royal Navy recently visited us on board HQS WELLINGTON and presented the Company with a splendid hand-painted ship’s crest which will be hung up in a place of honour in our office. Commander Leeder also presented two bottles of HMS PORTLAND’s own beer, Portland Pride, to the Company! It is based on the traditional Royal Navy CSB and is only available through the ship. The visit to the Company was reciprocated on 17 November when a party of Scriveners were invited to spend a splendid day at sea on board HMS Portland. The party was looked after fantastically well by Ship’s Heads of Department and the sailors could not have been more hospitable or informative.

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