£52.50 (Non JG member)
Overview
The Stationers’ Company was officially formed in 1403 as a guild for those in the book trade. This included bookbinders, booksellers and writers. As is often the case in London’s history the etymology is interesting. In the medieval period, craftsmen were itinerant, moving around wherever their trade took them. Manuscript writers and illuminators however decided to stay in one place, in the area just North of St Paul’s Cathedral. They set up stalls or ‘stations’, i.e. were stationary, and therefore became known as ‘stationers’. Stationery, the items they sold, also got their name from this origin. The Stationers received their Royal Charter in 1557, the only Royal Charter given out by Queen Mary I, sometimes known as ‘Bloody Mary’. Today the building is Grade I listed, with many stained glass windows and, as is always the case with livery halls, the walls are covered in paintings of masters, royals and honorary members After our tour you will have free time to get lunch and explore the area which contains many interesting places. St Paul’s is opposite and nearby is Paternoster Square & The Guildhall Art Gallery, Fortnum & Mason in The Royal Exchange and you may like to cross the Millenium Bridge to Tate Modern.