Irvine Incorporated Trades was granted a Seal of Cause by the council of the Royal Burgh  in 1646. That was the first official recognition of the amalgamation of seven of the ancient Trades which had been functioning for generations in the town.

The Incorporation and its individual Crafts were responsible for setting and maintaining standards of work for the Craftsmen of the town. Each Craft also acted as a benefit society so that it cared for ill and aged craftsmen and for their families in times of hardship or bereavement.
Today, we have no regulatory power and, in fact, have no real involvement in craft activity in any real sense.

Still we look to the past for inspiration and try to apply the values of our past to the present day. We are still concerned with good fellowship and with caring for others although today we have a wider constituency; the beneficiaries may be any members our community who need help.