The Worshipful Company of Turners

Supporting the Craft, City and Charity for over four hundred years

News

Woodturning Connect 2023, biennial exhibition and competitions

Call for Entries! Use our next competitions to CONNECT with a London audience and potential buyers to get your name known. They will be held at Pewterers' Hall with judging on 18th October, and a public view day on 19th October. Read more »

Winter Woodturning Certificate Course in Scotland

The Certificate in Woodturning Course is designed to provide training which develops the basic woodturning skills necessary to become competent at woodturning. It is aimed at candidates either with some woodturning experience, or those more experienced but with no formal training. Read more »

Exciting news for the Emerging Turners Programme!

The next Emerging Turners Programme workshop to be held on the 11th-13 August 2023 at the Birstall Woodturning Club, featuring tutors Mary Ashton, Dave Dalby, Richard Findley and Emma Cook. Read more »

Charity

The Turners’ Company Charity

For 400 years (from bread for the poor in Ludgate in the 1600s, to supporting students suffering ‘device poverty’ during Covid 19), the Company’s history describes how, from its earliest days “the Turners, in common with most other Livery Companies, inherited a tradition of charity and benevolence”. Read more »

How you can support the Charity

On joining the Company, every Freeman is asked to promise that they will give an annual sum of at least £150 to the Charitable Trust, and if, as a Freeman or Liveryman, you are not already doing this, please do so. Read more »

Support & donations in 2020 & 2021

Throughout the 2020-2021 pandemic, the Charity has supported a number of good causes, including Livery Schools Link, a fundraising campaign to help buy laptops and tablets for the most disadvantaged students in secondary schools who are suffering device poverty. Read more »

Public events

Material Matters: contemporary craft practice by QEST makers

CEO of QEST, Deborah Pocock LVO, says "QEST is delighted to be collaborating with Court Barn on this prestigious exhibition, bringing together some of our hugely talented scholars from across the local area. Until 3rd September 2023. Read more »

Collections, Eleanor Lakelin

Sarah Myerscough Gallery will be marking its its 25th Anniversary this June - celebrating with the artist-designer-makers that made it all possible. Featured works by Eleanor Lakelin include a series of totemic column vessels in horse chestnut burr. Read more »

Ash & Plumb, Rhythm and Flow Exhibition

Ash & Plumb are delighted to share their next collection of works featuring in the group exhibition 'Rhythm and Flow' which is now open at the Gallery57 Contemporary Art Gallery. The exhibition runs from 24th June through to 27th August 2023. Read more »

Members' events

Members only event

Woodturning Connect Evening Reception

The Company will hold a Reception at Woodturning Connect for Livery Companies and Company members on Wednesday 18th October between 5.00 pm and 8.00 pm at Pewterers' Hall. This is a smaller venue than usual, and so places will be very limited. Read more »

Members only event

Masters and Clerks Company Lunch

With effect from the 2023 Master’s Year, the Livery Lunch and the Masters' and Clerks' Lunch are to be merged into a new format. Masters and Clerks of various Livery Companies will now be invited as official guests of the Company at a September lunch date, alongside Liverymen and their guests. Read more »

Members only event

Turners Gallimaufry Walk 2023 – Wren, back to the future!

This is a unique opportunity to experience on 7th September, to visit London’s smallest Livery Hall, Temple Bar, and to enjoy a walk through a selection of Wren’s contributions to the London skyline. The Chairman of The Temple Bar Trust is our guide for this event, Peter Murray OBE. Read more »

Features

The Turners’ Company and the Crown Jewels

A Past Master of the Turners’ Company, Professor James Tennant, Mineralogist to Queen Victoria, supervised the recutting of the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond. He transformed it from a large, flawed gem to the fabulous 105.6 carat oval brilliant to be seen in the Queen Mother’s Crown today. Read more »

Lady Gertrude Crawford, a remarkable turner

Lady Gertrude Eleanor Crawford was borne into an aristocratic family of turners but established her own mark as a lady turner at a time in history when it was very much a man’s world but proved she was as good as any of them. She was recognised by the Turners’ Company for her skill as […] Read more »

The Turners’ Consort

The Turners’ Company charity has commissioned a ‘consort’ of eight turned medieval-style recorders. Made by Tim Cranmore, one of the UK’s leading instrument makers, the Turners' Consort will be loaned to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama for teaching and student performances. Read more »

About the Company

Company

One of the oldest Livery Companies in the City of London, the Turners’ Company was already a guild in the 12th Century. To this day the Company continues to celebrate and support the ‘art or mysterie’ of turning. Read more »

The Master’s Letter

It is a huge honour to be elected Master of the Worshipful Company of Turners, the 353rd in a very long line going back to the year of our Charter in 1604. Read more »

The Turner Magazine

The Turner is the annual magazine of the Turners' Company. Subjects include the Company and its members, the craft of turning, educational and charitable activities and the City of London. The December 2022 edition is available to view now online. Read more »

Diary

September 29, 2023
October 4, 2023
October 8, 2023
October 17, 2023
October 18, 2023
October 19, 2023
October 24, 2023
November 1, 2023
November 10, 2023
  • Handmade Chelsea
    November 10, 2023 to November 12, 2023
    12:00 am - 11:59 pm
    at Chelsea Old Town Hall, London SW3 5EB, UK

November 11, 2023
November 12, 2023
November 14, 2023
November 23, 2023
November 25, 2023
November 27, 2023
November 28, 2023
December 15, 2023
December 18, 2023
  • Livery Dinner
    December 18, 2023
    6:15 pm - 10:00 pm
    at Vintners' Hall, 68 Upper Thames St., London EC4V 3BG, UK

January 10, 2024
January 25, 2024
  • Court Dinner
    January 25, 2024
    6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
    at Venue tbc

February 22, 2024
February 24, 2024
March 11, 2024
April 17, 2024
  • Spring Dinner
    April 17, 2024
    6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
    at Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Ln, London EC4M 7DD, UK

April 27, 2024
May 9, 2024

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