Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths

{{Infobox Livery Company

| name = Goldsmiths' Company

| image = Arms of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.svg

| image_size = 220

| caption = Goldsmiths' arms:
Quarterly Gules and Azure in the first and fourth quarters a Leopard's Face Or in the second and third quarters a Covered Cup and in chief two Round Buckles the tongues fesswise points to the dexter all of the Third.
The Company's hallmark for gold is
a Leopard's Face ducally crowned.

| motto = Justitia Virtutum Regina

| location = Goldsmiths' Hall,
London EC2, England

| formation = {{Start date and age|1327|df=yes}}

| association = Gold and silversmithing

| precedence = 5th

| website = {{URL|http://thegoldsmiths.co.uk/}}

| master = Brig. Ed Butler {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=90%|CBE|DSO}}

(Prime Warden for 2025/26){{cite web|url=https://jewellerymonthly.co.uk/richard-reid-appointed-697th-prime-warden-of-the-goldsmiths-company/|title=Richard Reid Appointed 697th Prime Warden of The Goldsmiths’ Company}}

|Purpose=Support and train jewellers and silversmiths, protect consumers by testing and hallmarking precious metals, work with charitable, educational and cultural partners to help people improve their lives.{{cite web | url=https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/company/today/company-strategy/ | title=The Goldsmiths' Company 2027 Strategy }}}}

File:Goldsmith Hall - 2nd half of the 19th century.jpg

The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths (commonly known as The Goldsmiths' Company and formally styled The Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of London),{{Cite web|title=History of the Company|url=https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/company/history/history-of-the-company/|access-date=9 April 2021|website=Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths}} is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London, headquartered at Goldsmiths' Hall, London EC2.

The company, which originates from twelfth-century London, received a Royal Charter in 1327 and ranks fifth in precedence of the City Livery Companies.

Its motto is Justitia Virtutum Regina, Latin for Justice is Queen of Virtues.

History

File:EH1286469 Goldsmiths Hall 03.jpg

Established as a medieval guild for the goldsmith trade, the term hallmarking derives from precious metals being officially inspected and marked at Goldsmiths' Hall in the City of London.

File:Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths' Alms Houses, Acton.jpg

In 1812, twenty almshouses were built on the former Perryn estate in Acton,[http://www.actonhistory.co.uk/acton/page7.html www.actonhistory.co.uk] on land bequeathed to the company by Alderman John Perryn in 1657.[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-aldermen/hen3-1912/pp22-32#google_vignette www.british-history.ac.uk][https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/company/history/history-of-the-company/ Official history] Retrieved 18 June 2018

In 1891, the Goldsmiths' Company founded the Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute, becoming Goldsmiths' College then Goldsmiths, University of London.

One of the few Livery Companies today playing a formal role in its ancient trade, it oversees the Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office, where objects made of precious metals are tested for purity, and then marked with an official symbol should they pass the necessary tests. At the Trial of the Pyx, the Goldsmiths' Company is also responsible for checking the validity of British coinage.

The Goldsmiths' Company also maintains a library and archive for those wishing to research goldsmithing, silversmithing and hallmarking.

List of select recent Prime Wardens

1950/52: Godfrey Allen
1984: Arthur Grimwade"Arthur Grimwade", in The Times; published 3 December 2002; p. 34
2004: Bryan Toye
2008: Grant Macdonald
2012: Hector Miller
2013: Richard Agutter
2014: William Parente
2016: Michael Wainwright
2017: Judith Cobham-Lowe
2018: Michael Prideaux[https://www.burkespeerage.com/ www.burkespeerage.com]
2019: Timothy Schroder{{cite web|author=Hailes. S|date=30 May 2019|title=Goldsmiths' Company names new prime warden|url=https://www.professionaljeweller.com/goldsmiths-company-names-new-prime-warden-2/?amp=1|website=Professional Jeweller}}
2020: Richard Fox
2021: Dame Lynne Brindley
2022: Lord Bridges
2023: Charles Mackworth-Young[https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/consultant-directory/charles-mackworth-young www.imperial.nhs.uk]
2024: Richard Reid
2025: Brigadier Ed Butler (698th)

=Goldsmiths' Centre=

File:Goldsmiths Centre (geograph 6029785).jpg

In 2012 the Goldsmiths’ Centre, a space for workshops, exhibitions and events, and education including apprentice training, opened in Clerkenwell.{{cite news|last=Engel|first=Matthew|title=British institutions: livery companies|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/e42e19a0-47da-11e2-a899-00144feab49a.html#slide0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/0R5vc |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=22 December 2012|newspaper=ft.com|date=21 December 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.goldsmiths-centre.org |title=Goldsmiths' Centre |publisher=Goldsmiths’ Centre |access-date=25 January 2019}}

=Current activities=

In July 2017, the Goldsmiths' Company announced it was to become a founding partner of the new Museum of London, donating £10 million to the new site.{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/arts/museum-of-london-strikes-gold-with-10m-donation-and-loan-of-treasures-a3578481.html |title=Museum of London strikes gold with £10m donation and loan of treasures |date=3 July 2017 |publisher=The Evening Standard |access-date=24 Nov 2017}} It also announced a contribution of £250,000 to Westminster Abbey for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, which opened in 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.churchbuilding.co.uk/goldsmiths-company-makes-major-contribution-westminster-abbey/ |title= The Goldsmiths' Company Makes A Major Contribution To Westminster Abbey |date=3 June 2017 |publisher=Church and Heritage Building |access-date=24 Nov 2017}}

The Goldsmiths’ Company supports two large educational initiatives, providing funding for a science initiative in primary schools created by Imperial College London{{cite web |url=http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_8-12-2016-12-10-20 |title=Imperial and Tigtag launch new resource to boost primary science |date=8 December 2016 |publisher=Imperial College London |access-date=24 Nov 2017}} and the National Theatre’s programme of streamed recordings for primary schools.{{cite web|url=https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/151242/sir-lenny-henry-launches-on-demand-in-schools-primary|title=Sir Lenny Henry launches On Demand in Schools Primary|date=4 November 2016|access-date=24 Nov 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201082133/https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/151242/sir-lenny-henry-launches-on-demand-in-schools-primary/|url-status=dead}}