There are 111 Livery Companies in London. Each is a remarkable philanthropic fellowship. Whether ancient like the Weavers or modern such as the Information Technologists, they are all dedicated to serving others.
Whether firmly bound or loosely tied to a craft, trade or its successor, every Company has in its own way made its charitable work manifest either by supporting education, research and welfare of a profession or by nurturing the skills of those actively involved. The living out of this ethos through the ages has ensured that the Livery holds an honoured place in the life of the City, the nation and beyond.*
The Salters' Company is one of the oldest Livery Companies in the City of London. After many years of fierce dispute, an order of precedence for Livery Companies was finally settled in 1515, starting with the Mercers at Number 1 and so on. The Merchant Taylors and Skinners continued to dispute their position and as a compromise they agreed to take turns being ranked at Numbers 6 and 7 in alternate years (hence the expression of being at "6s and 7s"). The Salters' Company is Number 9.
* Excerpted from The Livery Company Profile leaflet.
