Merchant Taylors Company

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Welcome to the Merchant Taylors' Company

Welcome to the Merchant Taylors' Company, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. Livery Companies, or Guilds as they were previously known, began in mediaeval times as fraternities which were often religious but also there to protect the interests of particular trades. There are now 108 City Livery Companies. Their current activities are mainly charitable although some have retained a trade or industry role. Explore these pages to learn more about the Merchant Taylors' Company.

Merchant Taylors' Cricketers Still Unbeaten!

 
The Merchant Taylors' cricketers took on the Skinners' team at Tonbridge School on 20 June and continued the success of their season by winning the match by 8 wickets. Hopefully the first of a series of many, this match was played in a competitive yet friendly manner in a 30-over format with a convivial lunch beforehand. The day started distinctly chilly with a North wind blowing that made the scorebox the warmest seats in the house! As the afternoon wore on, the sun emerged brightly to shine on a most happy scene.
 
A slight, but significant, local amendment to the Laws was agreed prior to the start of the match. Any six hit would be scored as seven – this to reflect the historical link between the two sides, dating back to The Lord Mayor Billesden Award of 1484.
Skinners’ batted first on the beautiful “Heads” wicket with the school buildings forming the backdrop, and as the game settled the Merchant Taylors’ opening bowlers (Graham Armstrong and Rob Morris) seemed to gain the early upper hand, allowing only 29 runs from the first seven overs. Jonty Graham took a catch behind off Morris to dismiss Sturgess for a duck with only 11 scored, but Gow and Bourne steadied the ship for the Skinners’, Bourne eventually retiring for a very good 50. With 40 on the board, Gow went to another catch by Graham, off Armstrong, and Chris Horne joined Bourne. This very productive stand formed the core of the Skinners’ total, with Horne also hitting a powerful, wristy and quick 50 – magnificent for a man with two hip replacements. Oliver Holroyd-Pearce felt a little unlucky to suffer a golden duck – another catch behind – this time off Julian Hare’s bowling, and Young joined Bourne to keep the score ticking along. Following Bourne’s retirement, Past Master Jonathon Cohen helped the assault on the final overs, he and Young taking Charlie London for 14 in the last. The Merchant Taylors’ had fielded very well though, each of the five bowlers used sharing the load.


Merchant Taylors’ reply began with Sam and Tim Hunter Jones, and they were quick to find the bowling to their liking. 19 runs were made in the first two overs, with Thompson suffering the worst but most notably for being hit for the first 7 – a huge hit by Sam. He hit another, later, and Tim hit a third. Each retired following well hit fifties, Sam hitting seven fours and two sevens in his 52, Tim with six fours and a seven in reaching the same score. Skinners’ bowlers were finding the going a bit tough, but Holroyd-Pearce eventually made a breakthrough, trapping Oliver Pritchard LBW for 7. Julian Hare, in at 4, brought further class to the proceedings and never looked in trouble as he took the score closer to victory, only losing Steve Ducat in the process for a first ball catch behind off Holroyd-Pearce.



The Merchant Taylors side then went on to beat the Grocers' Company in a thrilling Twenty20 clash on 5 July where they secured a 9 run victory thanks to an excellent all-round performance.