Conferment of the Freedom of the Saddlers' Company is the entry to membership of a guild whose records of Freemen go back seven hundred years. The methods of entry differ, depending on individual circumstances. In every case admission to the Freedom is solely at the discretion of the Court of Assistants.
Patrimony
Men and women, aged 21 or more, may apply to the Court for admission
by Patrimony if, at the time of their birth, their father was already
Free of the Company. With the Charter of 1995, this was extended (albeit
not retrospectively) to the children of lady freemen.
Servitude
Originally the main route to membership of the Company, it is little
used today. Entitlement to admission by Servitude is limited to those
aged 21 or more who have completed a full working apprenticeship indentured
to a Master Saddler who is both a member of the Company and a Freeman
of the City of London.
Redemption of the Trade
Members of the saddlery trade who, in the opinion of the Court, have
made a significant contribution to the craft, or who have achieved distinction
within the trade, may be invited by the Court to apply for the Freedom.
The minimum age for those in this category is 30.
Redemption
All other candidates for the Freedom fall into this category. Applications
are not entertained and candidates are invited by the Court which considers
the names of potentially suitable persons once a year. Redemption candidates
must be aged 26 or over.
