Presentation of the new Lord Mayor’s Hat
The Lord Mayor in his new hat, with the Master Feltmaker, flanked by the Lady Mayoress (r) and the Master’s wife (l).
Following years of tradition, the Master Feltmaker, His Honour Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, presented the newly elected Lord Mayor, Charles Bowman, with his official tricorn hat; a gift from the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers, and which is given prominence at the Lord Mayor’s Show. Click here for more details.
Installation of our new Master
Our new Master, His Honour Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC
Prior to our Installation Dinner at Haberdashers’ Hall on 6 October, we saw the installation of our new Master, His Honour Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC. We also welcomed Neil Edwards as our new Fourth Warden, who joins Lady Gilly Yarrow, Third Warden, Nigel Macdonald, Renter Warden and Bill Gammell, Upper Warden.
The Historical Committee had arranged for our 1667 Charter to be on display in the gallery. The Master’s Principal Guest at the dinner was Lord Carlile of Berriew, the eminent QC.
For more details, please click here
Our new Master, flanked by Wardens Neil Edwards, Nigel Macdonald, Bill Gammell and Lady Gilly Yarrow
The Feltmakers’ Banquet 2017
Our annual Banquet took place in June at Mansion House. The Master’s Principal Guest was Sir David Wootton and the presentation to the designer of the 1st. prizewinning hat at our Design Award was made by Lady Wootton. 
For more details of this splendid evening, please click here.
The Feltmakers’ Design Award 2017
First Prizewinner
Judging for the annual Feltmakers’ award for the design of a ladies’ hat took place at Haberdashers’ Hall in April.
Second prizewinner
The standard of entry was very high this year. For full details, please click here.
The Spring Livery Dinner at Vintners’ Hall, April 2017
We dined this April in the magnificent Vintners’ Hall. For details of the event, please click here.
The Presentation of the Tricorn Hat to the new Lord Mayor in November 2016
Master Feltmaker Jeremy Brassington presents the hat to new Lord Mayor, Dr. Andrew Parmley
Following tradition, the new Lord Mayor is presented with his official tricorn hat by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London at a ceremony at Mansion House, only a few days before the Lord Mayor’s Show.
The Master with his wife, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and Feltmakers’ Wardens
Installation Dinner 2016
Master Jeremy Brassington flanked by our five new Liverymen
As tradition dictates, our new Master is installed for his year in office at the Court meeting which is followed by our Installation Dinner held at Haberdashers’ Hall. So we say thank you to, now, Past Master Peter Simeons and welcome our new Master, Jeremy Brassington. We also welcome our new fourth Warden, Lady Gilly Yarrow, and the five new Liverymen who joined the Livery at that same Court meeting. For full details, please click here.
Feltmakers Visit to The Somme 2016
Mametz Wood memorial
In July 2016, the 100th. anniversary of the First World War Battle of the Somme, a party of Feltmakers visited the battle site to pay tribute. Past Master Captain Peter Cobb, OBE, RN, laid a wreath on behalf of the Feltmakers at the memorial to the 38th Welsh Division who lost 4,500 men taking Mametz Wood.
The Cemetery at Flat Iron Copse – Mametz Wood
The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London
The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers is today the Livery Company of the hatters.
The first reference to Feltmakers is in London in 1180. In 1269 the Cappers became officially established. Hurers made shaggy caps and in 1311 the Hatters were active. The Hurers and Cappers amalgamated with the Hatters and then merged with the powerful Haberdashers in 1502. Many feltmakers were already members of the Haberdashers and, as the Haberdashers controlled the retail outlets and the raw materials, this unification seemed sensible.
Contemporary sketch map showing the site of the original Feltmakers’ Hall, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666
In 1583 the Feltmakers petitioned Queen Elizabeth I for their own Charter but it was not granted until 1604, when King James I came to the throne. In 1667, King Charles II granted an expanded Charter extending their powers.The Company was granted Livery in 1733, number 63 in order of precedence.
In 1870-74 many famous politicians joined the Feltmakers. Between them four had been Chancellor, two First Lord of the Admiralty, two President of the Board of trade and two Foreign Secretaries.
The hatting trade flourished in the early part of the 20th. century. Twenty-seven Mayors were elected in 1914-18. In 1927 there were 9 Knights on the Feltmakers’ Court. During the second half of the 20th. century, the trade declined. There are now some 170 Feltmakers drawn from the higher ranks of many professions, businesses and trades as well as the hatting industry. The Feltmakers have produced two Lord Mayors and are flourishing again.
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