Worshipful Company of Bakers

From the Corporation of London, the Guild received the power to enforce regulations for baking, known as the Assize of Bread and Ale.

The violations included selling short-weight bread and the addition of sand instead of flour.

The Bread Assize remained in force until 1863, when Parliament repealed it.

In the medieval town of Orvieto, bakers were one of the thirty-one organized crafts.

Now largely ceremonial and charitable, these crafts and guilds formerly fulfilled the role of regulation much of which is now covered by local government.