History

As you would expect from a Company whose roots can be traced back to 1170, the Worshipful Company of Cooks has a rich and colourful history, from the earliest records of Cooks in the Middle Ages and their control of the craft until the 19 th Century to the Company’s current charitable works.

Click here to download a PDF of a Short History of the Worshipful Company of Cooks of London

Many of today’s sayings have originated from Livery Companies. ‘On tenterhooks’ arose from the double-ended hook in the Clothworkers' arms and ‘at sixes and sevens’ marked the struggle of the Merchant Taylors’ and Skinners’ Companies for sixth and seventh place in the table of precedence.