The Exchange of the Gavels

The Exchange of the Gavels ceremony took place on Friday. Marked each year the change of precedence between the Merchant Taylors' Company and the Skinners' Company is performed by the Lord Mayor with the Masters and Wardens of both Companies at Mansion House.

Founded within a few days of each other in 1327, the Companies argued for 50 years as to which should go 6th and 7th in the Lord Mayor’s river procession. To end the dispute, Sir Robert Billesden, the Lord Mayor in 1484, decreed that they should alternate at each year. Merchant Taylors’ is now 7th.