The Clothier's Company of Worcester was in existence in the 13th century, and was subsequently incorporated by Henry V111 and Queen Elizabeth. The later charter was dated 23rd September, 1590. The Company consisted of weavers, walkers and clothiers (a walker being a fuller), the process of fulling being performed by walking over the cloth.
Leland, the historian at the time of Henry V111, wrote:
'the wealthe of the towne of Worcester standeth by draperinge, and no towne in England at this present tyme maketh so many cloths yearly as this towne doth'.
At its height the City had 380 looms, and the industry gave employment to 8,000 persons, but at the time of Queen Elizabeth's visit the number was reduced by one-half. In 1671. it was said, the 'citizens and inhabitants for the greatest part are united into guilds, fraternities, and brotherhoods' Valentine Green mentions no less than 18 crafts or guilds existing, and of these the Clothiers were the most important and influential, and continued with an unbroken succession of masters and officers under the charter of Elizabeth I.
