York Company of Cordwainers to hold fundraising day

The Company of Cordwainers will be taking over St Crux Church Hall at the bottom of Shambles from 10am-4pm on Saturday for a special Fundraising Day.

There will be stalls selling everything from second hand books to bric-a-brac, jewellery, handbags and accessories - not to mention homemade cakes.

Freshly-made sandwiches and cakes and hot drinks will be available at the café inside the hall.

And the day will also give anyone interested in the history of one of the city’s traditional guilds to find out a bit more about the Cordwainers.

One of the medieval guilds of York which controlled trade and trained apprentices, the cordwainers were a guild of shoemakers. The name comes from the fine leather or ‘cordwan’ – from Cordoba in Spain – which was often used to make shoes in medieval times.

The Cordwainers were disbanded in York in 1808 – but then re-founded in 1977 by local people connected with the footwear and leather trades.

Today, the company focuses on fundraising and charity work – and also has a lively social programme.

John Ridgeway-Wood, the current Master of Cordwainers, said the guild was always on the on the lookout for new members.

John Ridgeway-Wood, Master of the Company of Cordwainers of York (Image: Supplied)

“But you really don’t have to make a pair of shoes to join!” he said.

“Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of the Company. You will get chance to meet like-minded people.

"We have a great social programme and this year we will be having our first Feast to celebrate the patron saint of shoemakers and leatherworkers, St Crispin, who people might know about because of the famous speech in Shakespeare’s play Henry V.

“If you are interested why not come along this Saturday to find out more?”