Shrewsbury Drapers Company
Contents
The Drapers' Hall
10 St. Mary's Place,
Shrewsbury
SY1 1DZ
Charity No's: 213372 233903
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The Shrewsbury Drapers in Modern Times
The company’s commercial activities ceased and its regulatory role in the trade of the town ended after the passing of the municipal Corporations Act of 1835. Most of the surviving guilds sold their property and divided the proceeds amongst the few remaining members of their companies. In Shrewsbury the majority was placed in the hands of a small bank of trustees incorporated as the ‘Master, Wardens and Freemen of the Worshipful Company of Drapers of Shrewsbury’. By the close of the nineteenth century the Company existed as little more than trustees of an almshouse charity. In the late 1960’s the Charity Commissioners persuaded the Company to become trustee of the almshouses known as ‘The Hospital of St Giles’ which was on the site of the early twelfth-century leper hospital of that name. The Company replaced the row of four derelict Georgian cottages with four attractive bungalows.
By 1990 the Company consisted of about a dozen members who were mainly concerned with the management of the two sets of almshouses. As throughout most of its history, the Hall was let as domestic accommodation, although members continued to use the principal room for occasional meetings. The cost of maintenance was proving a heavy burden on the resources of the charity; the building was becoming increasingly dilapidated and it was proving impossible to let it on economic terms. The members were advised that it was their duty, as trustees, to convert the building into an asset for the benefit of the almshouses.
It was at this stage that the Worshipful Company of Drapers of the City of London became aware of the situation. They were anxious to promote the revival of an ancient sister guild and to ensure the restoration of an historic building (one of only four provincial guildhalls to remain in use by the original owners). The London Drapers proposed that they should buy the Hall for such sum as the Charity Commission might accept as being a fair price. They would repair, extend and modernise it before leasing the ground floor to the Shrewsbury Drapers, until such time as the latter could buy back the whole building. At the same time the Company would recruit additional freemen and become once more an active body, after the fashion of the Livery Companies of London. Moreover, the aim was that the building that had played such a significant role in the early history of the town should be accessible to the people of Shrewsbury. This solution was gratefully accepted, and the work was carried out under the supervision of Harry Wilson and to the satisfaction of English Heritage and local conservation authorities. The work allowed for a public restaurant on the ground floor which would also provide catering for the Company’s banqueting. On the upper floors there are now bedrooms and suites, forming (with the restaurant) a bijou hotel of superior quality and great charm.
In 1992, as part of the revival of the Guild, the number of Freemen was increased to sixty and later to a maximum of eighty. The Court of Assistants, consisting of the officers and up to thirty Freemen, manages the affairs of the Company. The officers are the Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden, who are elected annually, and the Clerk, who may be elected for a number of years. Formal feasts are held in March (Charter Night) and October (Guest Night). There are other occasions such as Christmas and Trinity Sunday, when services are held in St Mary’s Church followed by feasts in the Hall. The Company holds other events to support charities and local colleges. The Hall may be hired for banquets or receptions.
Right: The Meeting Room in use as a restaurant dining room.
In 1998 the Company felt able to buy the Hall back from the London Drapers, but found that there were many advantages in the Hall being owned by a registered charity. The existing Drapers’ charities, concerned primarily with the almshouses and the relief of the poor, were not able to expend funds on the preservation of an ancient building; therefore the Company decided to set up the Shrewsbury Drapers`Hall Preservation Trust specifically to raise funds and to buy, preserve and manage the building.
The Trust is both a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity, and at least two thirds of the trustees must be Drapers. Funds were raised mainly from Freemen of the Drapers Company and a grant of £ 60,000 was obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Trust leases out the building as a boutique hotel, with certain rights reserved for the Guild to hold meetings and feasts in the Hall and for its historic furniture to remain in place. The rental income is used to maintain the Hall, pay off debts and thereafter build up an `extraordinary repair fund`. The public rooms of the hotel are normally open for visitors to view.
the ground floor to the Company under an arrangement that ensures that the historic furniture remains in the building.
Today, the Freemen of the Shrewsbury Drapers Company continue to be much involved with charitable work, especially managing and supporting their almshouses. They are also determined to preserve both their historic links with the town and their ancient guildhall.