How it all began

London was a Roman town and a trading post. Trade means transport, so carters plied their trade in Londinium and the Romans copied the Celtic cart. Under Saxon rule, London prospered, using track and river for trade.
Freemen emerged in 1230, and in 1277 the City began to control transport. Guilds evolved, and government followed. Saddlers, Loriners, Farriers and Paviors organised. In 1376 the Woodmongers made a 'mystery' or fellowship to run their trade in fuel. In 1481 there were 'disorders of carmen', and in 1485 the City banned big﷓nailed wheels to save the pavements.

The Crown conscripted carts to carry the Royal wine and the City despaired of ever cleaning its streets. Country carters forced food prices through the roof. The Carmen acted. They offered to provide the King's carriage, to clean the streets and to control the cartage trade. The Fellowship of Carmen was born in 1517.

When the Woodmongers Won

Unfortunately, Woodmongers had more carts, and carried more trade. Timber dominated transport and the Carmen were outnumbered. When the Woodmongers took control it didn't work out. A rumbustious lot, the Carmen objected, and turned to Christ's Hospital, short of cash, to look after their trade. If they did, the Carmen would pay their way.

Apprentices were bound; safety, noise, congestion and parking were all addressed. Yet in 1597 the Carmen fell out with Christ's Hospital and the Woodmongers saw their chance. With a Royal charter in 1605, they absorbed the Carmen. There followed sixty years of strife ﷓ and the birth of the one﷓way system, because Carmen would not give way to one another. Ungovernable and, unthinking', they were highly competitive too.

Times of Turmoil

When Wharfingers infiltrated Woodmongers, the fuel trade changed and in 1668 the Carmen broke loose. At much the same time, Coachmakers and Wheelwrights were chartered, and Watermen complained they lost custom from river to road, as lightermen broke into the coal trade. as middlemen between Woodmongers and ships' captains.
Eighteenth century Carmen faced theft, turnpikes, vehicle regulations and disgruntled traders. Parcels law hit trade, the Woodmongers faded away and Coal Factors took over the fuel market. Post﷓chaise, hackney, stage and mail congested London's streets as cartage faced its nemesis with the birth of London's docks in 1802.

The End of the Beginning

In Queen Victoria's reign the Carmen gained their Livery ﷓ the only Company to do so ﷓ but lost their trade. By the 1850s the Coal Exchange monopolised fuel, control of carts had slid out of Carmen's hands and, as the railways networked the land, the emphasis moved from goods to people, with omnibus and cab, post and train.
Cycle, steam, car and van transformed transport, and City Carmen almost disappeared but, as the 20th century dawned, they were revitalised. In the 1920s, the Company grew ﷓ largely through the coal trade ﷓ and in 1929 was granted arms. In 1946 it received its second Royal Charter.

Millennial Movers

In the last seven decades, Carmen have created a Benevolent Fund; mounted seven annual awards for achievement, innovation, safety, scholarship, design, environment and merit; sponsored lectures; produced eight Lord Mayors; formed a lasting friendship with military transport, and welcomed the Princess Royal as a Master Carman.

Today there are over 460 Liverymen, 170 Freemen, with numerous lady Carmen among them both and over 30 apprentices. Carmen give generously to their fellows in need, and to small causes and City scholars. They meet in church and hall, on river and in Guildhall. They advise their trade, advance transport education, set standards and encourage excellence. They support the City civic, and they guard worthwhile tradition, marking carts each year in Guildhall Yard.

For further details of the Carmen’s Company, contact:

W Gill Esq,
Clerk,
8 Little Trinity Lane,
London, EC4V 2AN
Tel: 020 7489 8287 (Clerk)
Fax: 020 7236 3313

email: enquiries@thecarmen.co.uk

Web site: www.thecarmen.co.uk