1619-1634

The first Charter was granted to the Tobacco-pipe Makers of Westminster in the County of Middlesex, but although outside the City, the grant damaged the trade of rival Companies in Bristol.

Wood was originally used for firing clay pipes and it was those who had been granted the monopoly of the pipe clay in 1618, who applied for the Charter in 1619 and exploited their monopoly (i.e. the Pipe Makers agreed to buy clay from the monopoly).

A new process using sea or pit coal for firing pipes came into use at about this time and the monopolists paid £40 a year for members of the Company to be taught how to make fires of this new material.

1634-1643

Charles 1 re-incorporated the Company in 1634 under the name of Tobacco-pipe Makers of London and Westminster and England and Wales, and the Company thus became a City Company, often meeting in Painter-Stainers Hall.

In 1638, the Company complained to the Privy Council about price-fixing by the monopolists and in 1639 the monopoly was ended. The outbreak of the Civil War in 1642 brought a number of difficulties, and probably in 1643 the Company had its Charter forfeited through non-payment of the annual rent due to the King.