The Federation is named ‘Haberdashers’ Aske’s’ after Robert Aske, the benefactor whose charitable benevolent fund the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers’ administer. He died in 1689 leaving £20,000 to the Company to buy a piece of land within one mile of London and to build on it a 'Hospital' and a school. The rest of his estate, £12,000, he left for the benefit of the Foundation, or Charity, of which the Haberdashers' Company became trustee. Since then, the school has massively grown, into what it is today.