Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths


The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. The company's headquarters are at Goldsmiths' Hall in the City of London.
The Company, which originates from the twelfth century, received a Royal Charter in 1327 and ranks fifth in the order of precedence of City Livery Companies. Its motto is Justitia Virtutum Regina, Latin for Justice is Queen of Virtues.

History

The Company was first established as a medieval guild for the goldsmith trade. The word hallmarking derives from the fact that precious metals were officially inspected and marked at Goldsmiths' Hall.
In 1812, twenty almshouses were built on the former Perryn estate in Acton, on open land west of London. The almshouses were built on land which had been left to the Company by John Perryn in 1657.
In 1891, the Goldsmiths' Company founded the Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute, which went on to become Goldsmiths, University of London.
Today, the Company is one of the few Livery Companies still to play a formal role in its ancient trade.
The Goldsmiths' Company oversees The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office, where objects made of precious metals are tested for purity, and then marked with an official symbol should they pass the necessary tests. At the Trial of the Pyx, the Goldsmiths' Company is also responsible for checking the validity of British coinage.

List of Prime Wardens

The current Prime Warden is Richard Fox, who took over the role from Timothy Schroder in May 2020.
In 2012 the Goldsmiths’ Centre, a space for workshops, exhibitions and events, and education including apprentice training, opened in Clerkenwell.

Current Activities

In July 2017, the Goldsmiths' Company announced it was to become a founding partner of the new Museum of London, donating £10million to the new site. It also announced a contribution of £250,000 to Westminster Abbey for their Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, due to open in 2018.
The Goldsmiths’ Company supports two large educational initiatives, providing funding for a science initiative in primary schools created by Imperial College London and the National Theatre’s streaming programme for Primary Schools.