The Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers
The Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers was formed in 1987 by a group of craftsmen bow and arrow makers capable of making longbows of marketable quality and performance to the criteria of the British Long-Bow Society, whilst continuing with their own individual specialisms. Within its ranks the guild includes arrowsmiths, and stringers.
Although a modern Organisation, it recognises the ancient origins of its purpose, and has established and maintained valued links with the Worshipful Company of Bowyers, and the Worshipful Company of Fletchers. To publicise its existence more widely, the following is a summary of the Aims of the Craft Guild.
The Aims of the Craft Guild
One
To provide a forum for the fraternal association of British craftsmen and women concerned with the manufacture of quality traditional archery equipment
Two
To encourage, maintain, and improve the standard of bow and arrow making and other associated activity by British craftspeople.
Three
To establish and maintain fraternal links with crafts persons overseas concerned with bow and arrow making.
Four
To maintain links with the ancient London Livery Companies historically superintending the crafts overseen by the Guild.
History of Medieval Guilds
The groups, or fraternities of craftsmen from and by whom the medieval Guilds were formed represented the complex pattern of medieval life. Industries that were essential both to support life, and inter-alia the smooth running of the Country's economy, needed regulation by Authority to control production, and above all, quality. For maintenance of proper standards of workmanship was an early tenet of the first Guilds.
The term 'livery', applied to the various Companies of individuals comes from feudal times, when, with royal approval an allowance of clothing was given by various bodies, barons, monasteries" colleges, or guilds to their own retainers to identify them as 'belonging'. The Guilds were permitted to wear livery at a time when others were not and were thus known as 'livery Companies'. The Companies by which the present Craft Guild is recognised, are the Worshipful Company of Bowyers, and the Worshipful Company of Fletchers.
There is an additional association with the Blacksmith's Company through one of the Guild's two Master arrow-smiths. The Ancient Company of Longbow string makers is now defunct, although the Craft Guild does include a Stringer amongst its membership. The term 'worshipful' referred not just to the God-fearing nature of the Guilds and their membership, an aspect which might be taken more or less for granted having regard to the time that they were formed, but in its earlier sense, 'worth-ship', reflecting the respect and reverence in which the Guild was held.
The Modern Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers
The modern Craft Guild formed in 1987, to some extent follows the form of the earlier Companies. They had, and still have a Master, or 'Warden' as their figurehead, - in modern terms the Chairman, who serves for one or two years. To help and advise him in his deliberations there is a Court of Assistants. They are in effect the Governing Body who decide policy. Looking after the day-by-day running of the Guild is the Clerk.
The present Guild has a Warden and an under-Warden with five Assistants, forming a Court of seven. The Warden serves for two years, when he returns to the body of the Guild, being replaced by the under-Warden. The position of under-Warden is taken by an Assistant, and a member of the Guild is then elected to replace him and maintain the numbers of the Court. A newly entered member of the Court might expect to become Warden in twelve years.
There are two methods of entry to the Guild:
a. Recognition of long service as a bowyer or fletcher to the traditional archery community, coupled with an examination by the inner court of workmanship and subsequent acceptance by the guild at large.
b. By service as an apprentice to a Guild Master Bowyer. On completion of their apprenticeship a Masterpiece has to be produced to be judged and approved by the full Guild in session at their guildmote.
There are two other categories of membership each requiring quality workmanship:
a. There is one other type of membership which is open to those who make bows and/or arrows for a hobby to satisfy friends and family but who do not trade for profit
b. Associate members from overseas who largely are professionals.
Quality and its maintenance was a prime object of the early Courts and remains a principal cornerstone of the present Craft Guild. Quality is maintained by personal pride, and the obvious commercial disadvantage of poor workmanship. In an endeavour to ensure quality work, each Guild member serves an 'apprenticeship' before election to full Guild status.
To encourage the development of excellence a certification scheme for the Guild's Bowyers has been established sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Bowyers. The scheme allows for the presentation of bronze, silver and gold certificates by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Bowyers.
