Cloak and Wheatsheaf court, Houndsditch.*
Clockmakers. Charles I. incorporated this company by letters patent in the year 1632. They have a Master, three Wardens, and twenty-eight Assistants; but neither livery nor hall.
Cloisters, 1. In the Middle Temple. 2. St. Bartholomew’s hospital.
Cloister court, 1. Inner Temple.☐ 2. Black Friars.☐
Cloisters court, Glasshouse yard, Water lane, near White Friars.☐
Cloth Fair, Smithfield. King Henry II. granting to the priory of St. Bartholomew, the privilege of a fair to be kept annually at Bartholomew tide, the clothiers of England and the London drapers repaired thither, and had their booths and stalls within the church yard of that priory; this place being built into a narrow street, still retains the name of Cloth Fair; and in conformity to its name several eminent woollen drapers still live there.
Cloth yard, Dunning’s alley.
Clothworkers, one of the twelve principal companies, was incorporated by letters patent granted by King Edward IV. in the year 1482, by the name of The fraternity of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary, of the Sheermen of London: but being reincorporated by Queen Elizabeth, she changed their first appellation, to that of The Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of freemen of the art and mystery of Clothworkers of the city of London; which title was confirmed by Charles I.
This company is governed by a Master, four Wardens, and thirty-two Assistants, with a livery of 154 members, each of whom, upon his admission, pays a fine of 20l. They have a very large estate, out of which they annually pay to the poor about 1400l.
Clothworkers Hall is situated near the north east end of Mincing lane, and is a brick building with fluted columns of brick crowned with Corinthian capitals of stone. The hall is a lofty room wainscoted up to the ceiling, which is adorned with fretwork. The screen at the south end is of oak, and ornamented with four pilasters that have their entablature and compass pediment of the Corinthian order. At the west end are the figures of King James and King Charles I. in their robes, carved as big as the life, and on the windows are painted the King’s arms, those of the city, the clothworkers company, and several others, belonging to the masters of that fraternity.