The Worshipful Company of Gardeners
The Worshipful Company of Gardeners, which first appears in the records of the City Corporation in 1345, is one of the enduring entities from the era of medieval craft guilds. These guilds regulated the practice of their crafts, ensuring quality and facilitating proper training through apprenticeships. By 1605, after having operated for centuries as a mystery or fellowship, the Guild received its incorporation through a Royal Charter. This Charter delineated the scope of the Company's oversight, encompassing a broad range of gardening activities including planting, grafting, sowing, and the intricate management of plants, herbs, seeds, and trees, along with the engineering aspects related to gardening.
As it stands today, the Company is ranked 66th in the order of precedence among the Livery Companies of the City of London, maintaining a prestigious position in the city's historic and civic landscape.