On Thursday 4 December 2014 an evening reception took place to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Act of Parliament which was eventually passed in 1664, consolidating the relationship between the school and the Leathersellers’ Company.
The original Act, which was recently re-discovered during the demolition of the Leathersellers’ Hall, is written on vellum (calfskin) and is priceless.
The Second Warden, His Hon. Judge Anthony Thornton and the Archivist, Jerome Farrell, of the Leathersellers’ Company addressed an audience of Old Colfeians with insights which included how to look after a 350-year old scroll written on leather and the significance of such a document from a Leatheseller’s point of view, particularly with respect to the turbulent times in England around 1664.
The Act Decrees that:
- Forever hereafter there shall be a school by the name of Colfe’s in the county of Lewisham in Kent
- 'the Society of the Mistery or Art of the Leathersellers of the Citty of London shall be forever hereafter the Governours of the school of Lewisham of the foundation of Abraham Colfe'