Pearly Kings and Queens

The Pearlies is the collective term for the Pearly Kings and Queens Pearly forming a traditional welfare organization in London.

The tradition of Pearlies dates back to the 19th century. The tradition of Henry Croft was justified a Street Sweeper, which the fashion of the road dealers ( " costermongers " ) is mother of pearl buttons took up at their pant legs to sew. Croft such buttons sewed on his suit, so as to draw in his collections for charity attention.

A first organization of Pearlies was founded in the early 20th century. Today there are three groupings of Pearlies. The Original London Pearly Kings and Queens Association, the London Pearly Kings and Queens Society and the Pearly Guild.

Henry Croft died in 1930 and was originally built on the St Pancras and Islington Cemetery monument is now located in the crypt of St. Martin-in -the-Fields. St Martin-in -the-Fields is the church, which has selected the Original London Pearly Kings and Queens Asscociation as their church and where they fall in the annual festivals organized for charitable purposes. The London Pearly Kings and Queens Society has selected St Paul 's Church in Covent Garden as their church.