During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when the first Trade Guilds were formed, the members were drawn from a very close-knit community. Indeed, it was a pre-requisite that, to be a member of a Trade Guild in the City of London, one lived and worked within the City boundaries. Although today the City is but a square mile (or just slightly over) in those days the City was even smaller.

It can be easily appreciated therefore that there was little need for formal rules to govern conduct at gatherings of Guild members. In any case, it was not until many years later that social formalities became accepted and were applied. Even then, as members of the Guilds (or livery companies) were drawn from within the City boundaries, accepted patterns of formality and protocol were widely known and readily accepted.

Today, almost all livery companies draw their members from a much wider area than the narrow confines of the City of London. It follows therefore, that not all members may be aware of the livery customs and etiquette and the aim of this item is to inform and thus make the Companies functions more pleasurable for all who attend.