Vintners' Hall

Vintners' Hall
Middlesex
Vintners' Hall
Type:	Livery hall
Location
Grid reference:	TQ32368075
Location:	51°30’37"N, 0°5’39"W
City:	London
History
Address:	Upper Thames Street
	Livery hall
Information
Owned by:	The Worshipful Company of Vintners
Website:	www.vintnershall.co.uk

Vintners Hall on Upper Thames Street in the City of London is the livery hall of the Worshipful Company of Vintners. It stands by Southwark Bridge, in Vintry ward.

The Vintners' Company is one of the most ancient of the livery companies, and is thought to date back to the 12th century. It is one of the "Great Twelve" livery companies of London and ranks eleventh in the order of precedence among the companies. One of the more peculiar rights of the Company involves the ceremony of swan upping.

History and origins

Function room in Vintners' Hall

The Vintners' Company probably existed as early as the twelfth century, and it received a Royal Charter in 1364. The charter gave the Company gained a monopoly over wine imports from Gascony. Also, it acquired the right to sell wine without a licence, and it became the most powerful company in the wine trade. However, in 1553, it lost its right to sell wine anywhere in the country.

Up to 2006, Vintners retained the right to sell wine without a licence in certain areas, such as the City of London or along the route of the old Great North Road. This right has now been abolished, but limited privileges remain.

Swan upping

One of the more peculiar rights of the company involves the ceremony of swan upping.

• 
  Swan marker of the Worshipful Company of Vintners, in his blue uniform, during annual swan upping, Abingdon, summer 2011
• 
  The Vintners starting swan upping, at Sunbury, 2004
• 
  The Queen's Swan Uppers (white flag, far right) and swan uppers from the Vintners' Company (red flag) and Dyers' Company conducting swan upping on the Thames in Abingdon, in 2006

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Vintners' Hall)

• Vintners' Hall

References

• William Herbert (1836). The History of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of London: Principally Compiled from Their Grants and Records : with an Historical Essay, and Accounts of Each Company : Including Notices and Illustrations of Metropolitan Trade and Commerce, as Originally Concentrated in Those Societies : with Attested Copies and Translations of the Companies' Charters, Volume 2. William Herbert.