The Mercers’ Company has been in the business of providing accommodation for older people in need.
15th Century: Whittington College was established under the will of Sir Richard Whittington and entrusted to the company
15th Century: The Earl of Northhampton and Lady Jane Mico both established almshouses
19th Century: The company established the Mercers' Company Housing Association
Almshouse- Whittington College, Felbridge near East Grinsted, Surrey founded 1424
Almshouse- Lady Mico’s Almshouse, Stepney, established 1670
Almshouse- Trinity Hospital Greenwich, founded 1514
Almshouse- Trinity Hospital Shotesham, Norfolk, founded 1885
Almshouse- Mercers’ House, Essex Road, Islington 1991
Almshouse- Priory House, Sans Walk, Clerkenwell 1997
Over 120 men and women - mercers, mercer widows, and others have made gifts or bequests to the Mercers Company trusting it would ensure their wishes were carried out. Many were very modest, but some were quite substantial and survive today as registered charities for which the Company is the sole trustee.
MAJOR BENEFACTORS
- Joan Bradbury (known as Lady Bradbury) (c1450-1530)
- Elizabeth, Lady Campden (d.1643)
- John Colet (1467-1519)
- Richard Collyer (c1480/85-1533)
- William Dauntsey (1483-1543)
- Richard Fishborne (c1562-1625)
- Sir Thomas Gresham (c1519-1579)
- Henry Howard, earl of Northampton (1540-1614)
- Jane, Lady Mico (around 1634-1670)
- Richard Whittington (c1350-1423)
If in the timeline link to the relevant section
CHURCH BENEFICES
In the 17th some wealthy Londoners, particularly those of the more evangelical end of Protestantism, entrusted funds to their livery companies to purchase or endow church livings.
- Hexham Abbey, Northumberland (Richard Fishborne’s bequest)
- St John the Evangelist, Spittal, Northumberland (Richard Fishborne’s bequest)
- St Peter, Scremerston, Northumberland (Richard Fishborne’s bequest)
- St Peter and St Paul, Reepham, Lincolnshire (Richard Fishborne’s bequest)
- St Clement, Fiskerton, Lincolnshire (Richard Fishborne’s bequest)
- St Peter and St Paul, Kirton-in-Holland, Lincolnshire (Sir Thomas Bennett’s gift)
- St. Mary the Virgin, Fairford Gloucestershire (Elizabeth Fermor)
- St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, Queen Victoria St, City of London (historical links)
- All Saints, Marsham, Norfolk (historical links though the Buxton and Wathen families)
- St Mary the Virgin Burg-next-Aylsham, Norfolk (historical links though the Buxton and Wathen families)
Education?
Support for schools and the young people they educate has been at the heart of the Company’s education focused philanthropy since the 16th century.
1509:
The Company’s first direct involvement with a school came in 1509 when St Pauls’ School was founded by John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. Colet who was a Mercer, entrusted the management of the school and its endowment to the Company.
16th century
The 16th century saw an increase of school foundations especially following the dissolution of the monasteries. Some founders looked to secure the survival of their schools by entrusting them to the management of a livery company.
20th/21st century
In the 20th century the Mercers extended their educational links and philanthropic support by forming an association of schools and Gresham College.
Individual Schools
State schools, academies and colleges
- Thomas Telford School, Telford
- Walsall Academy, Bloxwich
- Sandwell Academy, Bromwich
- Madeley Academy, South Telford
- Hammersmith Academy, London
- The College of Richard Collyer, Horsham
- Peter Symonds College, Winchester
- The Royal Ballet School, London
- Holy Trinity & Silas CE Primary School, Camden
- Culloden Primary School, Tower Hamlets
Independent schools
- St Paul’s School, Barnes
- St Paul’s Girls’ School, Hammersmith
- Abingdon School, Oxfordshire
- Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire
- Bute House Prepatory School for Girls, Hammersmith
- The Hall School, Hampstead