Beer · History · Short entry

Charter of the Brewers' Company of London

On 22 February 1438 Henry VI granted London's brewers a charter giving their company control over all liquor made from malt in the City.

Location: City of London, United Kingdom

22 February 1438

Royal charter incorporating the 'Mystery of Brewers of the City of London', with four annual wardens and powers over all malt liquor sold or made in the City and suburbs.

Why it mattered

An example of the guilds that regulated brewing in late medieval towns.

From association to company

London's brewers appear as an organised body in the City Letter Book in 1292. In 1406 the "mistery of free Brewers" won the right to appoint masters and wardens to control the trade, and on 22 February 1438 Henry VI granted the first charter. It allowed four wardens to be elected each year to "supervise, rule and govern", gave control of all liquor sold or made from malt in the City and suburbs, and allowed the company to hold property to support poor members.

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