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| | Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers: Livery Companies of London (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-16) |
 | | Until 1835 membership of a Company was the only avenue to the Freedom, or full citizenship, of the City of London. |
 | | When in that year the Common Council decided that the intervention of a Company should no longer be necessary, fears were expressed that the end of these ancient corporate bodies was in sight. |
 | | Throughout the years, certain of the Livery Companies have fallen by the wayside, such as, for instance, the Silk-throwers, Silkmen, Pinmakers, Soapmakers, Hatbandmakers, Long-bow Stringmakers, Woodmongers, Starchmakers and Fishermen. |
| www.wcsim.co.uk /page04.htm (741 words) |
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