The tour of Drapers’ Hall will provide an opportunity to learn of the story of the Drapers’ Company since its foundation in 1364 to monopolise the buying and selling of woollen cloth in the City of London through to its modern-day role of administering charitable trusts. Led by the Company’s Archivist, visitors will explore the principal rooms of Drapers’ Hall which has been the Company’s home since 1543. Purchased from Henry VIII, the site was originally the city palace of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex and Chief Minister to Henry, forfeited to the King on Cromwell’s execution in 1540. This original building was entirely destroyed by the Great Fire and rebuilt to designs by Edward Jarman, being considerably damaged again by fire in 1772 and so rebuilt for a second time. Thereafter, changes have been made to the Hall principally at the end of the 19th century when the Hall was new-fronted, the main staircase redesigned decorative schemes altered. Since then, carefully planned alterations have improved facilities and conserved the historic fabric. An architectural patchwork it may be, but Drapers’ Hall is a monument to a fascinating progression of architects, surveyors and craftsmen who have all left their mark on the building.
The principal rooms of the Hall are adorned and furnished with the Company’s works of art collection with portraits of benefactors and monarchs (including Sergei Pavlenko’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and Jonathan Yeo’s portrait of King Charles III); statuary (such as Richard Belt’s Hypatia); 18th century Gobelin tapestries; and chandeliers (including a pair by John Blades, 1797). The tour will end in the Silver Vault where the Company’s fine plate collection will be on view.
Access will be via our Clerks Office Entrance located on Throgmorton Avenue, EC2N 2DQ
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