What Is The Honourable Cordwainers' Company?

Founded in 1984 by a small group of shoemakers and historians, the H.C.C. is a modern guild, having drawn up its charter in 1985. In 1987 the HCC incorporated as a non-profit, tax-exempt educational organization in the state of Virginia, the home of America's first shoemakers. Also in 1987, we were granted official status through recognition by The Master of The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, established in London, England receiving its first Ordinances in 1272. We are proud to consider them our parent-guild and continue to uphold the highest standards for our trade.

This trans-Atlantic association between the two guilds continued in 1993, when a delegation of American guild members were invited to Great Britain to participate in the 900th anniversary of the city of Brecon, in Wales. They participated side by side with English, Scottish and Italian shoemaking guild delegations at the re-dedication of the Medieval Cordwainer's chapel at Brecon Cathedral. After participating in formal guild and civic ceremonies with the Lady Mayor of Brecon, The Worshipful Company invited the HCC delegation to London where they were hosted for tours of the Cordwainers' Technical College, the Horniman Museum's shoe collection, and a supper at the Law Society.

The HCC is a steadily growing international membership of men and women, actively discovering and preserving the practical skills, technology and history of boot and shoemaking and its allied trades. Our diverse membership is composed of: practising boot and shoemakers; historical shoemaking interpreters and museum animators; researchers; traditional leather workers; shoe repairers; large and small scale manufacturers; conservators, restorers and curators; archaeologists; economic labor and industrial historians; trade history scholars; costume specialists; tool and machinery collectors; authors; educators and students, from North America, Great Britain and Europe.




Title Page



click here for more information