• Home
  • Trades House
    • Deacon Convenors
    • Clerks to the Trades House
    • Trades House Outings
  • Incorporations
    • Incorporations B - G >
      • Bakers >
        • Past Deacons
        • Bakers' Clerks
        • Bakers Members from 1700 to 1931
        • Bakers' membership Genealogy from 1890 to 1931
        • Bakers Membership Applications from 1896
        • Bakers Membership Applications Book 2
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Barber >
        • Past Deacons
        • Barbers' Clerks
        • The Barbers' Officer
        • Barbers' Members from 1714 to 1976
      • Bonnetmakers >
        • Past Deacons
        • Bonnetmakers' Clerks
        • Members of the Bonnetmakers & Dyers 1930
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Coopers >
        • Past Deacons
        • Cooper's Clerks
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Cordiners >
        • Past Deacons
        • Cordiners Members
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Fleshers >
        • Past Deacons
        • Fleshers members from 1770 to 1913
        • Fleshers World War 1 Roll of Honour
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Gardeners >
        • Past Deacons
        • Gardeners' Clerks
        • Gardener Members 1616 to 1903
        • Gardeners members' Genealogy in 1903
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
    • Incorporations H - W >
      • Hammermen >
        • Past Deacons
        • Hammermens' Clerks
        • Members of the Hammermen from 1616 to 1911
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Maltmen >
        • Past Visitors
        • Maltmens' Clerks
        • Members of the Incorporation of Maltmen from 1605 to 1879
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Masons >
        • Past Deacons
        • Masons' Clerks
        • Mason Members 1574 to date
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Skinners >
        • Past Deacons
        • Skinners' Clerks
        • Skinners' Members from 1516 to 1936
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
      • Tailors >
        • Past Deacons
        • Tailors Roll of Honour 1914-18
      • Weavers >
        • Past Deacons
        • Weavers' Clerks
        • Weavers Members 1896
        • Members of the In corporation of Weavers in 1905 and 1948
        • Weavers Roll of Honour 1914 ~ 18
      • Wrights >
        • Past Deacons
        • Wrights' Clerks
        • Wrights' Members 1800 to 1900
        • Scholars in Trades Free School 1873 - 76
    • Closely Associated Organistation >
      • Lord Provosts of Glasgow 1450 to 2012
      • Lord Deans of Guild 1605 to 2013
      • Grand Antiquity Society >
        • Preses
        • Grand Antiquity Society Members to 1942-3
        • Grand Antiquity Society Artefacts.
      • Association of Deacons >
        • Chairperson and Treasurers
        • Association of Deacons' Artefacts
        • Association of Deacon's Outings
      • Trades House lodge >
        • Right Worshipful Master
        • Trades House Lodge Artefacts
      • Society of Deacons and Free Preseses >
        • Preses
        • Society of Deacns & Free Preses Rules & Members
        • Society Photographs
        • Society's Box Contents
        • Society Pensioners from 1891 to 1923/4
      • Ladies Association
    • Associated Organistation >
      • North Parish Washing Green Society >
        • North Parish Washing Green Society ~ Preses and Treasurers
        • North Parish Washing Green Society ~ Clerks
        • Members from 1903 to 1953
      • Weavers Society of Anderston >
        • Preses
        • List of Office Bearers of the since 1738 to 1879
        • List of members of the Weavers of Anderston
      • Govan Weavers Society >
        • Deacons
        • Clerks
      • Tailors of Rutherglen >
        • Past Deacons
        • Tailors of Rutherglen's Artifacts
    • Incorporations outwith Glasgow >
      • Aberdeen Trades
      • Arbroath Trades and Guildry
      • Banff Burgess Roll etc.
      • Dundee Merchants and Trades
      • Dunfermline Incorporations
      • Edinburgh Trades and Guildry
      • Elgin Trades and Guildry
      • Kirkwall Trades
      • Perth Incorporations
      • Stirling Incorporated Trades
      • St. Andrews Trades
    • Glasgow Irvine Society
    • Incorporated Trades of Irvine ~ 1909
  • Glasgow
    • Education Books
    • Emigration
    • Entertainment Books
    • People
    • Places
    • Genealogy
    • Health Books
    • Law Books
    • Miscellaneous Books
    • Robert Burns
    • Slavery/Emancipation
    • Social & Club Books
    • Trade Books
  • Military and Rolls of Honour
    • Pre- 1914 Books
    • Rolls of Honour
    • World War 1 Books
  • VIRTUAL MUSEUM
  • Archives
  • Membership
  • Contact Us
The Trades House Digital Library
Picture
Brief History of the Incorporation
of Cordiners of Glasgow

In old Glasgow, boots, jerkins and other leather goods were provided by a group of tanners, curriers, barkers and souters. They adopted the single title of Cordiners (from "Cordoba - workers", i.e. those who worked with the best Spanish shoe-leather) while in due course their ranks were augmented by craftsmen from the Netherlands and France to replace those "slane in the wars".

Following a series of Acts of the Scottish Parliament the crafts gradually acquired greater control of their own affairs and the Cordiners' Minute of Michaelmas 1550 refers to the election by the craftsmen "after the auld wise and consuetude" " of a "Dekin " Auditories, Cersaris of the mercat" and an "Officiar" to regulate their affairs, a situation further regularised by an incorporating Seal of Cause from the Town Council confirmed by the Archbishop as feudal superior of the Burgh in 1558 just before his hurried departure as a result of the Reformation. Seals of Cause confirmed a Craft's power to control entry to the Craft by apprenticeship, the exclusive right to trade in a Burgh and responsibility for the quality of the goods offered for sale as well as the allocation of booths in the market. In 1919 the Incorporation was honoured to receive a Royal Charter. Today it sends 6 representatives to the Trades House.

When the exclusive privileges of trade and burgh election were abolished under the Reform Acts in the last century the Incorporation gave up operative trade membership as a condition of entry. It continues to assist the leatherworking craft where appropriate. It also concentrates on charitable assistance to members and their families, to employees in the trade and to non-state-aided charities.

For membership of the Incorporation of Cordiners, please visit the following link.

Trades Hall
Trades House
Copyright
All photography has have been taken by George Mahoney and the Trades  House acknowledges and thanks him for his kind work.