Further History
Additional information about the history of the York Butchers’ Gild, researched and written by Mr Tony Wright.
Although the Town Clerk wrote to the Company on 28th February 1876, addressing William Routledge as “Master”, the Company accounts show that Mr Routledge was actually a Searcher. Robert Fawcett signed the accounts as “Chairman” in 1875 but the title seems to have survived for only a couple of years. John Blackburn was referred to as Chairman in early 1878 but later as Master. After that, as far as I can tell, there was a Master through until John Munford in 1902, then no more, although Richard Jewitt claimed to be Master in 1928-9, when the Hall was sold. The Town Clerk examined the legal position in exhaustive detail and the proceeds were eventually paid to Messrs Munford and Houlgate, the surviving members. Disregarding Richard Jewitt, this gives 24 more Masters, making you the 95th.
I can find no references to Masters of our Gild before the 19th century and the first in any Guild is the Tailors in the early 17th century. Possibly, the reason for this is that any craftsman, once he took apprentices, became a Master. The Guilds had Searchers (except for the Merchants, who had a Governor), who ran the Guild and had a Civic role as well, and a Clerk for the day to day work. In early times, the gild probably had an Alderman (see below). I will continue to research this and let you know.
The first reference to the Butchers as a corporate body was in 1282. Most of the guilds claim that it is in 1272 which is the first year in the Freemen’s Register but this does not show that a guild existed then – only that men became Freemen and some stated a craft when gaining the franchise. Indeed, the companies were not called Guilds, except in Latin. The words “company”, “fellowship” (good for you), “craft”, “occupation”, “mystery” (rarely) and latterly “brotherhood” were used but the first use of “guild” by the Butchers was in 1702 and then oddly as “The Ancient Gild of the Butchers Company” on the cover of the account book. Even this was probably added when it was rebound in the 19th century.
Although it is clear that there was some kind of organisation before 1282, in that year the butchers were allowed a longer period to pay a fine for allowing some border hostages to escape and they were referred to as a “commonalty”*. It is almost certain that the butchers had some input to the Guild Merchant, which ran York from the 12th century (and probably before the Conquest as well), possibly in the way that the London Company elected an Alderman to serve.
The first named butchers in York for which we have found a record were Walter and his son, Benedict, who witnessed a charter sometime between 1212 and 1225. I am fairly certain that they had premises in Skeldergate and Fetter Lane. The (flesh) Shambles is first recorded in 1370 in its present place. Before that it is clear that there was a Shambles area across the river in St John Parish and a meat sellers street where St Andrewgate is now (first called “Chetmangerergata” in 1175). The present Shambles was probably a connecting road between the city gate (where Kings Square is now) and the dock area beyond Coppergate. The plaque saying that the Shambles was recorded in Domesday book is simply wrong. Sometime before 1370 it was called “Haymangerergata”, probably a reference to the house beside a hedge there.
Incidentally, the idea that the Shambles was a dirty place is also demonstrably wrong. Most of the slaughtering was done away from the street and strict laws forbade the streets of York being dirty.
I cannot find out why people believe that butchers were also executioners. The use of the word “carnifex” in ancient Latin (literally “meat worker”) as torturer is as pejorative as it is now (I can find no evidence that Chemical Ali trained in the meat trade). I have found no records at all that butchers were ever City Executioners and plenty of names of people who were not. The most famous example of a butcher being asked to execute someone – Mary Queen of Scots – was a disaster. A man used to paring off meat joints is no more likely to be good at severing heads than anyone else and the techniques of slaughtering were finely taught and not applicable to execution. At no time in history have butchers been regular slaughterers anyway and they were forbidden to do so in York unless a pennyman was not available.
Similarly, the idea that butchers were the City gaolers seems to come from a misreading of the records. The record below was cited in the Victoria County History (which is in “British History Online”, City of York) but makes no reference to gaol at all. Mind you I haven’t yet found all the records. Another cited in the VCH may be accurate and, if so, will push back the recorded existence of our commonalty to the 12th century.
Although the Town Clerk wrote to the Company on 28th February 1876, addressing William Routledge as “Master”, the Company accounts show that Mr Routledge was actually a Searcher. Robert Fawcett signed the accounts as “Chairman” in 1875 but the title seems to have survived for only a couple of years. John Blackburn was referred to as Chairman in early 1878 but later as Master. After that, as far as I can tell, there was a Master through until John Munford in 1902, then no more, although Richard Jewitt claimed to be Master in 1928-9, when the Hall was sold. The Town Clerk examined the legal position in exhaustive detail and the proceeds were eventually paid to Messrs Munford and Houlgate, the surviving members. Disregarding Richard Jewitt, this gives 24 more Masters, making you the 95th.
I can find no references to Masters of our Gild before the 19th century and the first in any Guild is the Tailors in the early 17th century. Possibly, the reason for this is that any craftsman, once he took apprentices, became a Master. The Guilds had Searchers (except for the Merchants, who had a Governor), who ran the Guild and had a Civic role as well, and a Clerk for the day to day work. In early times, the gild probably had an Alderman (see below). I will continue to research this and let you know.
The first reference to the Butchers as a corporate body was in 1282. Most of the guilds claim that it is in 1272 which is the first year in the Freemen’s Register but this does not show that a guild existed then – only that men became Freemen and some stated a craft when gaining the franchise. Indeed, the companies were not called Guilds, except in Latin. The words “company”, “fellowship” (good for you), “craft”, “occupation”, “mystery” (rarely) and latterly “brotherhood” were used but the first use of “guild” by the Butchers was in 1702 and then oddly as “The Ancient Gild of the Butchers Company” on the cover of the account book. Even this was probably added when it was rebound in the 19th century.
Although it is clear that there was some kind of organisation before 1282, in that year the butchers were allowed a longer period to pay a fine for allowing some border hostages to escape and they were referred to as a “commonalty”*. It is almost certain that the butchers had some input to the Guild Merchant, which ran York from the 12th century (and probably before the Conquest as well), possibly in the way that the London Company elected an Alderman to serve.
The first named butchers in York for which we have found a record were Walter and his son, Benedict, who witnessed a charter sometime between 1212 and 1225. I am fairly certain that they had premises in Skeldergate and Fetter Lane. The (flesh) Shambles is first recorded in 1370 in its present place. Before that it is clear that there was a Shambles area across the river in St John Parish and a meat sellers street where St Andrewgate is now (first called “Chetmangerergata” in 1175). The present Shambles was probably a connecting road between the city gate (where Kings Square is now) and the dock area beyond Coppergate. The plaque saying that the Shambles was recorded in Domesday book is simply wrong. Sometime before 1370 it was called “Haymangerergata”, probably a reference to the house beside a hedge there.
Incidentally, the idea that the Shambles was a dirty place is also demonstrably wrong. Most of the slaughtering was done away from the street and strict laws forbade the streets of York being dirty.
I cannot find out why people believe that butchers were also executioners. The use of the word “carnifex” in ancient Latin (literally “meat worker”) as torturer is as pejorative as it is now (I can find no evidence that Chemical Ali trained in the meat trade). I have found no records at all that butchers were ever City Executioners and plenty of names of people who were not. The most famous example of a butcher being asked to execute someone – Mary Queen of Scots – was a disaster. A man used to paring off meat joints is no more likely to be good at severing heads than anyone else and the techniques of slaughtering were finely taught and not applicable to execution. At no time in history have butchers been regular slaughterers anyway and they were forbidden to do so in York unless a pennyman was not available.
Similarly, the idea that butchers were the City gaolers seems to come from a misreading of the records. The record below was cited in the Victoria County History (which is in “British History Online”, City of York) but makes no reference to gaol at all. Mind you I haven’t yet found all the records. Another cited in the VCH may be accurate and, if so, will push back the recorded existence of our commonalty to the 12th century.
