Woolmen Claim Right To Stuff Woolsack

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 22

Woolmen Claim Right To Stuff Woolsack

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A > LONDON, June 26. The Government has agreed to examine a claim of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen to have “the ancient right” to supply the stuffing for the Woolsack, the seat of the judiciary in the House of Lords. Making the promise to the House of Lords, Lord Hilton, a lord-in-waiting, said that the examination would be held because the Government had no information to substantiate the claim. The promise has pleased Mr H. A. Harris, clerk to the Worshipful Company of Woolmen. He said that at one time the woolsack was stuffed with wool provided by his company. “More recently it was found to be stuffed with hair. Evidently someone found this out and said. “This is all nonsense: this is a woolsack and ought to be stuffed with wool.’ And the Woolmen’s Company said we ought to do it. Not long ago it was restuffed with Commonwealth wool, but the

first we knew of this was after it had all been decided. “We are the oldest connexion with the woollen industry in this country,” he said. “Although most of our records were lost in the Great Fire of London, we are believed to go back to the 12th century. Someone ought to have told us about it. Lord Barnby, a past master of the company, was asked by our court to raise the matter in the House of Lords. He has now done so.” The Woolsack was found to be stuffed with hair in 1938, and was restuffed with a blend of wools from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. It was restuffed in 1950 with some of the existing wools, and again at the beginning of this year with 601 b of wool from 14 Commonwealth countries. The Worshipful Company of Woolmen has its court of 20 members. Being without its own hall, it meets, in the Tallow Chandlers’ Hall or the Vinters’ Hall in the City "of London.