Guilds

 A guild is a corporation of craftsmen or artisans in a particular town (exceptions are possible, see "Masons" post). A long and har apprenticeship were required to join to one of them, and the most experinced members were called "master craftsmen". "In medieval cities, craftsmen tended to form associations based on their trades, confraternities of textile workers, masons, carpenters, carvers, glass workers, each of whom controlled secrets of traditionally imparted technology, the "arts" or "mysteries" of their crafts. Usually the founders were free independent master craftsmen who hired apprentices." cit. (Joann Jovinelly,The Crafts And Culture of a Medieval Guild. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 8). They had particular priviledges.

Ken FOLLET, World without end, London : Macmillan, 2008, pag 222:"The prior was lordof Kingsbridge, but Edmund was alderman of the guild, leader of the merchants who made the town what it was, and he treated the prior  as a partener in the governance of the town".
Ken FOLLET, World without end, London : Macmillan, 2008, pag. 247:"That was the trouble with guilds... it was in their interest to exclude people, for good or bad reasons".
Ken FOLLET, World without end, London : Macmillan, 2008, pag. 293:"...he could see the broad roof of the guild hall, tha largest building in town outisde the priory".
Ken FOLLET, World without end, London : Macmillan, 2008, pag. 294: "...abattoirs,tanneries,breweries,bakeries and workshops of all kinds."

Last edited 05/05/2013