Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Goldsmiths' Company is one of the twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. It received its first charter in 1327 from Edward III. In 1339 a house in Foster Lane was purchased which became the site of the Company's hall. A second royal charter was granted in 1393. The hall was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666 and rebuilt, and then rebuilt again in 1835. The Company had responsibility for the quality of gold and silver items. After 1478 these had to be marked in the Goldsmith's Hall (the origin of the term 'hallmark'). The Company founded Goldsmith's College.