The Company of Cordwainers

Cordwainers were originally workers in 'cordwan', a type of shoe leather which takes its name from the Spanish town of Cordoba, the main source of such leathers in medieval times. The earliest reference to the trade in York comes from the Freemens Rolls dating from 1272 which lists over 200 Cordwainers. The first entry is 'Thomas de Fulford, Cordwainer'.

The oldest surviving ordinances of the Company appear in Norman French in the York Memorandum Book c. 1395. Later ordinances, dated 1417 and c.1430, appear in Latin in the same book. At the time the Cordwainers of York were variously described as an 'occupation', 'Craft', or 'Mysterie'; references to an incorporated company first appearing towards the end of the sixteenth century. Throughout this period the Cordwainers, like many other guilds, exercised great power in the City; senior officers, known as Searchers, were entitled to inspect all leather and shoes coming into York and reject any they found to be of inferior quality.

In 1808, for reasons unknown, the Company ceased to function, but in 1977 a number of local people connected with the footwear and leather trade revived it. Today the Company has around 50 members and its objectives include promoting knowledge of the British footwear industry; joining with other companies in the civic life of York; and supporting charities in both the industry and the City of York.

For more information visit www.communigate.co.uk/ne/cordwainers/ or contact: The Clerk, S M Burn Esq, 11 Lendal, York.