Individual portraits of London aldermen.

Item set

Title

Description

A remarkable series of pen, ink, and watercolor drawings of the London aldermen during the mayoralty of Sir John Olney (1446-47) have been attributed to Roger Leigh, Clarenceux King of Arms (d. 1460). The portraits are probably not accurate since the faces and clothing of the 25 aldermen varied little; instead, the focus is on the alderman’s heraldic arms, as displayed on the shield he holds in his right hand. A scroll floating above his head identifies each alderman, who rests his left hand on a large board that displays the names of previous aldermen of his ward. The portraits, some of them unfinished, were perhaps made to hang in the newly constructed London Guildhall. They have had several past owners, but are now held in the London Metropolitan Archives.

Creator

Roger Leigh

Temporal Coverage

15th century

Contributor

Clare Lewis

Items

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Portrait of John Olney

John Olney, a Mercer, was alderman of Coleman Street ward in 1435-58. He served as mayor in 1446-47, during which these portraits were created; sheriff in 1432-33. Arms: Shield of gules, flanches or, flanches charged with rampant lions argent, charged with bezants or. Tilting helm with flourished torse or, crest of couped guardant lion, mantle argent and gules.
Portrait of Thomas Canynges

Thomas Canynges, a Grocer, was alderman of Aldgate ward in 1445-61. He served as mayor in 1456-57; sheriff in 1449-50; MP in 1459. Arms: Shield of argent, charged with three moor’s head profiles.
Portrait of Stephen Forster

Stephen Forster, a Fishmonger, was alderman of Bread Street ward in 1444-58. He served as mayor in 1454-55; sheriff in 1444-45; MP in 1435.
Portrait of Simon Eyre

Simon Eyre, a Draper, was alderman of Walbrook ward in 1444-46, Broad Street ward in 1446-49, Cornhill ward in 1449-51, and Langbourn ward in 1451-58. He served as mayor in 1445-46; sheriff in 1434-35. Arms: Shield of gules, charged with chained hedgehog.
Portrait of John Norman

John Norman, a Draper, was alderman of Castle Bayard ward in 1441-42 and Cheap ward in 1442-68. He served as mayor in 1450-51; sheriff in 1443-44; MP in 1449. Arms: Shield of or, three fesse gules, chief argent, chief charged with three fleur de lis sable.
Portrait of Nicholas Wyfold

Nicholas Wyfold, a Grocer, was alderman of Castle Bayard ward in 1442-51, Tower ward in 1451, and Cornhill ward in 1451-56. He served as mayor in 1450-51; sheriff in 1443-44. Arms: Shield of or, raguly per chevron gules, chief charged with two rampant lions or, center base charged with rampant lion gules.
Portrait of Henry Frowyk

Henry Frowyk, a Mercer, was alderman of Bassishaw ward in 1424-57. He served as mayor in 1435-36; sheriff in 1427-28; MP in 1422 and 1423. Arms: Shield of azure, chevron or, chief charged with two caboshed lions or, base charged with one caboshed lion or, chevron charged with honor point mullet sable. Tilting helm, mantle azure.
Portrait of John Gedney

John Gedney, a Draper, was alderman of Farringdon Without ward in 1415-16, Coleman Street ward in 1416-35, and Cornhill ward in 1435-49. He served as mayor in 1427-28 and 1447-48; sheriff in 1417-18; MP in 1414 and 1432. Arms: Shield of argent, fesse sable, chief charged with two caboshed lions gules, center base charged with one caboshed lion gules.
Portrait of Robert Clopton

Robert Clopton, a Draper, was alderman of Lime Street ward in 1434-48. He served as mayor in 1441-42; sheriff in 1435-36; MP in 1439 and 1483. Arms: Shield of gules, fesse ermine, chief charged with three mascles or, base charged with three mascles or.
Portrait of John Paddlesle

John Paddlesle, a Goldsmith, was alderman of Farringdon Within ward in 1428-37 and Langbourn ward in 1437-51. He served as mayor in 1440-41; sheriff in 1432-33.
Portrait of Thomas Chalton

Thomas Chalton, a Mercer, was alderman of Bishopsgate ward in 1433-52. He served as mayor in 1449-50; sheriff in 1433-34. Arms: Shield of azure, charged with regardant queue fourchy lion argent with crown or.
Portrait of Thomas Scott

Thomas Scott, a Draper, was alderman of Dowgate ward in 1446-51 and Walbrook ward in 1451-63. He served as mayor in 1458-59; sheriff 1447-48. Arms: Shield of argent, chevron sable, chief charged with two hooked ladders sable, center base charged with hooked ladder sable.
Portrait of Stephen Broun

Stephen Broun, a Grocer, was alderman of Aldgate ward in 1429-45 and Billingsgate ward in 1445-60. He served as mayor in 1438-39 and 1448-49; sheriff in 1431-32; MP in 1449 and 1453. Arms: Shield of argent, chief dexter canton, chief sinister bend sable, chevron sable, canton charged with annulet sable.
Portrait of Thomas Catteworth

Thomas Catteworth, a Grocer, was alderman of Tower ward in 1435-51. He served as mayor in 1443-44; sheriff in 1435-36; MP in 1437, 1445, and 1449.
Portrait of Geoffrey Feldynge

Geoffrey Feldynge, a Mercer, was alderman of Farringdon Within in 1446-60. He served as mayor in 1452-53; sheriff in 1445-46; MP 1439 and 1455. Arms: Shield of argent, fesse azure, fesse charged with three lozenges or.
Portrait of John Hatherle

John Hatherle, an Ironmonger, was alderman of Aldersgate ward in 1434-37 and Queenhithe ward in 1437-60. He served as mayor in 1442-43; sheriff 1431-32; MP in 1433. Arms: Shield of argent, bend gules, chief charged with two couped lions sable, bend charged with three formy argent. Tilting helm, crest of a stag, mantle or.
Portrait of William Gregory

William Gregory, a Skinner, was alderman of Cordwainer ward in 1435-61, and served as mayor in 1451-52; sheriff in 1436-37.
Portrait of Robert Horne

Robert Horne, a Fishmonger, was alderman of London Bridge ward in 1444-56. He served as sheriff in 1446-47. Arms: Shield of argent, indented chevron gules, chevron charged with honor point mullet or, chief charged with two couped unicorns azure, base charged with one couped unicorn azure. Tilting helm with torse, azure unicorn crest with mascles or, mantle azure with mascles or.
Portrait of John Derby

John Derby, a Draper, was alderman of Candlewick ward in 1444-54. He served as sheriff in 1445-46. Arms: Shield of or, per chevron embattled azure, chief charged with displayed eagles azure, center base charged with displayed eagle or.
Portrait of John Sutton

John Sutton, a Goldsmith, was alderman of Farringdon Without ward in 1436-37 and Aldersgate ward in 1437-47. He served as sheriff in 1440-41. He was killed in a fight on London Bridge during the Jack Cade rebellion in 1451. Arms: Shield of argent, cross sable, dexter chief charged with mullet sable.
Portrait of William Combes

William Combes, a Stockfishmonger, was alderman of Farringdon Without ward in 1437-51 and Castle Bayard ward in 1451-52. He served as sheriff in 1441-42; MP in 1447. Arms: Shield of gules, raguly bend sable, charged with queue fourchy lion or. Tilting helm, torse argent and gules, crest of a man, mantle azure.
Portrait of William Whetenhall

William Whetenhall, Grocer, was alderman of Farringdon Within ward in 1438-46. He served as sheriff in 1440-41. Arms: Shield of vert, bend ermines sable. Tilting helm sable, torse gules and vert, crest of a couped billy-goat.
Portrait of William Cantelowe

William Cantelowe, a Mercer, was alderman of Cripplegate ward in 1446-61. He served as sheriff in 1448-49; MP in 1453 and 1455. Arms: Shield of argent, baton raguly sable.
Portrait of William Abraham

William Abraham, a Vintner, was alderman of Vintry ward in 1446-56. He served as sheriff in 1447-48.
Portrait of Thomas Pomeroy

Thomas Pomeroy, alderman of Portsoken ward from 1445-81 was Prior of Holy Trinity Aldgate, a house of Austin canons which held the soke of Portsoken and whose prior was ex officio its alderman. Unlike the other figures, Pomeroy does not wear the pink cloak with tartan lining signifying the office of Alderman.