BAKERS HALL, 7 HARP LANE, EC3R 6DP
Open House web site says:
There has been a Bakers' Hall on our current site since 1505. The current incarnation dates from 1964, and is a unique collaboration of old and new. The hall was originally designed by Trehearne and Norman, Preston and Partners in conjunction with Past Master William Newcome- Wright) and is the first of the post-war [World War II] livery halls in a Modernist idiom.
After stopping for a picnic lunch in Cleary Gardens I walked from Painters’ Hall to the rather different Bakers’ Hall. The Worshipful Company of Bakers has owned the site of Bakers’ Hall since 1505 and has lost lost three previous Halls to fire, the first during the Great Fire of London which allegedly started in a bakery in the nearby Pudding Lane. The current modernist Hall is from 1964 and replaces the one lost during the little disagreement of 1939-1945. 2024 was the first year they had opened up for Open House.
Inside there’s still wood panelling and stained glass but in a modern style. They’d laid out some old baking-related books from their collection and you could wander about looking at the silverware and the weighing scales but better than that they had volunteers doing guided tours so I tagged along on one of those and very good it was too.
Downstairs is the Court Room which is where they conduct their official meetings. The Worshipful Company of Bakers’ formerly acted as an early trading standards organisation with powers to punish or even put out of business transgressors (three strikes and we come round and smash up your ovens, sunshine) so the Court Room resembles very much that of a law court. These days the company is still closely connected to the baking industry through educational works as well as carrying out charitable functions similar to other livery companies. Most members are associated with the trade but as the guide said membership is open and anyone with an interest in baking can apply.
I was only a little disappointed that there were no free samples 😀 Although paid-for refreshments were on offer they weren’t overly inspiring and didn’t seem to have many takers.
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