1170 London Cookshops
First known description of London’s cookshops in the foreword of FitzStephen’s biography of Thomas Becket.
1309 Cooks' Guild
First record of Cooks’ Guild members on the list of admissions to the Freedom of the City; required for Guild membership then, as it is today.
1393 Master Cooks
First record of Master Cooks: for the Cooks of Eastcheap and the Cooks of Breadstreet, both sworn in on the same day.
1467 Grant of Arms
Guild status is recognised with the Grant of Arms. “Argent a Chevron engrailed Sable between three Columbine flowers Azure”.
1482 Founding Charter
Grant of the Company’s founding charter by King Edward IV, setting out rights and privileges, including annual election of two Masters.
1500 First Cooks' Hall
Land is acquired in Aldersgate and, shortly after, the Company builds its first Hall.
1567 Company Clerk
First record of a Clerk of Cooks, a paid position responsible for all Company administration. The first reference to a Beadle is much later, in 1665.
1609 Lands in Ulster
A Livery summons from King James I to raise funds for the Ulster Plantation. The association of Cooks, Masons, Broderers and Mercers is given land in recompense.
1612 Coat of Arms
Crest and Supporters are added to the Arms with the motto VULNERATI NON VICTI (Wounded not Conquered).
1674 Cooks' Hall Rebuilt
One of only eight Halls to survive the Great Fire of 1666. It is rebuilt on the same site eight years later after heavy use by other Livery Companies.
1764 Fire at the Cooks' Hall
The Hall in Aldersgate is severely damaged by fire and rebuilt over the following two years.
1771 Destruction of the Hall
Its final demise. The Cooks’ Hall is completely destroyed by fire and never rebuilt; the land is retained.
1814 Lord Mayor of London
Samuel Birch becomes the first and (so far) only Cook to become Lord Mayor of the City of London.
1906 Irish Estate Sold
The 3,210 acres owned by the Associated Companies is sold after nearly 300 years. The Trinity Cup is presented by the Mercers to mark the occasion.
1907 The Albion
The tavern in Aldersgate is demolished after many years as the Company’s favoured venue for meetings and banquets.
1919 Innholders Hall
The Innholders Hall is adopted as the home of the Cooks’ Company.
1941 The Blitz
The Clerk’s office suffers a direct hit in the Blitz. Many records are destroyed.
1975 The Armed Forces
A formal association is formed with the Catering Corps of the British Army; followed by similar arrangements with Royal Navy and RAF in 1981.
1982 Quincentenary
The Company celebrates its 500 year anniversary. A commemorative badge is given to all members.
2003 Admission of Women
Women are permitted to become Liverymen of the Company.
2013 Apprentice Cooks
The Worshipful Company of Cooks Apprenticeship Programme is founded in association with Westminster Kingsway College.
2021 First Female Master
Mrs Virginia Bond is crowned the 539th Master of the Worshipful Company of Cooks.
2021 Apprentice joins Freedom
An Apprentice Cook is welcomed into the Freedom for the first time in over 150 years.
The Latest Account
A History of The Worshipful Company of Cooks.
Written by Alan Borg CBE FSA (2011)
Alan Borg is a former director of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Imperial War Museum and former Librarian of the Order of St John and St John Ambulance. He is currently Vice-President of the Foundling Museum. A fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, he was awarded the CBE in 1991. After publication of this magnificent, illustrated, hardback book, we were delighted to welcome him as an Honorary Freeman of the Company.
Please contact the Clerk if you would like a copy.
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