Leather Currying Today

The historic trade of the Curriers' Company, that of preparing and dressing of leather, declined rapidly in the UK during the early part of the 20th Century and is now restricted mainly to the dressing of leather for a few specialist products. Much of the leather still produced in the UK is now worked almost entirely by machine.

However, there are exceptions, an example being the one remaining firm of curriers still working in Walsall, one of the great centres of the English leather trade in the 19th and 20th Centuries; J&E Sedgwick & Co produces hand-finished leather predominately for the equestrian market.

 

Current Membership and Aims

With the decline of the trade of currying in the UK, the Worshipful Company of Curriers' Livery now numbers around 100 and comprises a wide range of professional men and women who work in the City of London and elsewhere, in accountancy, financial services, brokerage, the law, academia, and industry. As always, the Livery exists to support the work of the City of London, its Mayoralty and its corporate governance. In addition, it aims to provide support to leathercraft in its widest sense, sustaining the historical objects of the Company and also conducts an annual programme of charitable giving.

Support of Leathercraft

To maintain meaningful links with the leather trade, the modern day Curriers' Company regularly supports centres of excellence such as: the London College of Fashion, which runs diploma and degree courses in Leathercraft, Design and Technology and, the Leather Conservation Centre in Northampton, which conserves and restores all forms of historic leather objects and materials.

General Charitable Giving

In addition, the Company acts as a relevant force for good with an annual programme of donations to educational establishments and general charities.

Curriers' Millennium Healthcare Bursary

As one means of marking the beginning of the new Millennium, the Curriers' Company endowed an annual primary healthcare Bursary, to support research or personal study to improve the lot of under- privileged sectors of the population in London. Click on the link to learn more about the Curriers' Millennium Bursary.

Affiliations with Military Units

There is a long tradition of links between City of London Livery Companies and units of the United Kingdom's Armed Forces. The Curriers' Company is no exception, despite the fact that there is little historical synchrony between the Curriers of old and the military, although it is true that the soldiers' equipment for centuries has made extensive use of leather. Today, the Curriers have affiliations with one reserve and one front-line military unit:

• 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (EOD)(V)
• The Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing