Skinners’ Heritage Foundation

Our Heritage

Conserving our treasures for future generations to enjoy
Coming Soon

The Skinners’ Company holds unique and nationally important treasures which need to be protected and maintained.

The Skinners Heritage Foundation will play a key role in the custodianship and curation of these artifacts, bringing their existence to the attention of the wider public and enabling a deeper understanding of their significance.

The Cockayne Cups

In 1599, Skinner Sir William Cockayne died and bequeathed £120 for the manufacture of five ‘loving cups’ in the form of Cockerels.
Ever since the cups came into the Company’s possession, they have been used at the election banquet as per Cockayne’s bequest. Luckily, all five were saved from The Great Fire and are still used to this day in the Cocks and Caps Ceremony at the annual Election Dinner.

Ketel’s ‘Smythe’ Portraits

In 1579, Dutch artist Cornelis Ketel produced a series of 14 paintings of the Smythe Family, 9 of which hang in the Committee Room at Skinners’ Hall. They are the earliest known portraits of a non-nobility family and include three of the Skinners’ most important benefactors - Thomas Customer Smythe, Alice Smythe (née Judde) and Thomas Smythe.

Brangwyn Panels

Sir Frank Brangwyn produced four panels for the corner of the hall which form separate murals entitled ‘Education’ and ‘Charity’.

The Master's Badge

The Master’s badge was commissioned in 1874. It features the Company’s coat of arms with helmet above in striking blue, framed by 64 diamonds and 40 rubies. A roundel at the base displays ‘1327’, the year of our first charter. It is worn by the Master each year at Company events.

The Cockayne Cups

In 1599, Skinner Sir William Cockayne died and bequeathed £120 for the manufacture of five ‘loving cups’ in the form of Cockerels. Ever since the cups came into the Company’s possession, they have been used at the election banquet as per Cockayne’s bequest. Luckily, all five were saved from The Great Fire and are still used to this day in the Cocks and Caps Ceremony at the annual Election Dinner.

Ketel’s ‘Smythe’ Portraits
In 1579, Dutch artist Cornelis Ketel produced a series of 14 paintings of the Smythe Family, 9 of which hang in the Committee Room at Skinners’ Hall. They are the earliest known portraits of a non-nobility family and include three of the Skinners’ most important benefactors - Thomas Customer Smythe, Alice Smythe (née Judde) and Thomas Smythe.
Brangwyn Panels
Sir Frank Brangwyn produced four panels for the corner of the hall which form separate murals entitled ‘Education’ and ‘Charity’.
The Master's Badge
The Master’s badge was commissioned in 1874. It features the Company’s coat of arms with helmet above in striking blue, framed by 64 diamonds and 40 rubies. A roundel at the base displays ‘1327’, the year of our first charter. It is worn by the Master each year at Company events.
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The Cockayne Cups

In 1599, Skinner Sir William Cockayne died and bequeathed £120 for the manufacture of five ‘loving cups’ in the form of Cockerels. Ever since the cups came into the Company’s possession, they have been used at the election banquet as per Cockayne’s bequest. Luckily, all five were saved from The Great Fire and are still used to this day in the Cocks and Caps Ceremony at the annual Election Dinner.

Ketel’s ‘Smythe’ Portraits
In 1579, Dutch artist Cornelis Ketel produced a series of 14 paintings of the Smythe Family, 9 of which hang in the Committee Room at Skinners’ Hall. They are the earliest known portraits of a non-nobility family and include three of the Skinners’ most important benefactors - Thomas Customer Smythe, Alice Smythe (née Judde) and Thomas Smythe.
Brangwyn Panels
Sir Frank Brangwyn produced four panels for the corner of the hall which form separate murals entitled ‘Education’ and ‘Charity’.
The Master's Badge
The Master’s badge was commissioned in 1874. It features the Company’s coat of arms with helmet above in striking blue, framed by 64 diamonds and 40 rubies. A roundel at the base displays ‘1327’, the year of our first charter. It is worn by the Master each year at Company events.
Previous slide
Next slide
The Cockayne Cups

In 1599, Skinner Sir William Cockayne died and bequeathed £120 for the manufacture of five ‘loving cups’ in the form of Cockerels.
Ever since the cups came into the Company’s possession, they have been used at the election banquet as per Cockayne’s bequest. Luckily, all five were saved from The Great Fire and are still used to this day in the Cocks and Caps Ceremony at the annual Election Dinner.

Ketel’s ‘Smythe’ Portraits

In 1579, Dutch artist Cornelis Ketel produced a series of 14 paintings of the Smythe Family, 9 of which hang in the Committee Room at Skinners’ Hall. They are the earliest known portraits of a non-nobility family and include three of the Skinners’ most important benefactors - Thomas Customer Smythe, Alice Smythe (née Judde) and Thomas Smythe.

Brangwyn Panels

The Skinners' Company commissions Sir Frank Brangwyn to produce 4 additional panels for the corner of the hall not completed until 1937. The 4 panels form two separate murals are entitled 'Education' and Charity'.

The Master's Badge

The Master’s badge was commissioned in 1874. It features the Company’s coat of arms with helmet above in striking blue, framed by 64 diamonds and 40 rubies. A roundel at the base displays ‘1327’, the year of our first charter. It is worn by the Master each year at Company events.

Sir Frank Brangwyn​

In 1901 the Court of the Skinners’ Company decided to put aside some money for decorating the Banqueting Hall. A past Master, Thomas Lane Devitt, recommended the artist Sir Frank Brangwyn whom he had already sponsored to paint a mural for the Royal Exchange.  

The Brangwyn Panels

Contact

Marina Abel Smith
  0207 213 0562
  donate@skinners.org.uk

The Skinners’ Company is a modern and dynamic membership organisation committed to education and philanthropy.

THE SKINNERS’ COMPANY
8 Dowgate Hill,
London, EC4R 2SP
  020 7236 5629

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