Sheep Drive Throughout the Thames: The sheep drive from Southwark Cathedral to Smithfield Market on Saturday 17 June, 2006 organised as part of the London Structure Biennale and if probably not main the sheep, accompanying the sheep over the Millennium Bridge had been architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano in Biennale “Belief me, I’m an architect” T-shirts in addition to Freemen from the Butcher’s Firm.
The best dates again to the institution of Freemen of the town, and was first recorded in 1237. Freemen had been allowed to drive their sheep throughout London Bridge – then and for a few years the one bridge throughout the River Thames – with out paying the conventional Bridge Toll, giving them an essential business benefit when taking sheep from south of the river to the Wool Change or Smithfield Meat Market.
It wasn’t simply sheep however utilized to any livestock akin to cattle, pigs, chickens, geese, geese though a few of these could be tough to drive, and as far as I’m conscious there have been no fashionable revivals involving something however sheep.
Freeman additionally gained different essential privileges, akin to immunity from being taken to serve on ships by the press gang and being allowed to hold your sword drawn in opposition to muggers when strolling across the Metropolis.
In 2006 there have been no indicators of the press gang and I didn’t see any of the Freemen current carrying swords. Nor had been any convicted of homicide or treason and allowed to say the moderately uncertain privilege of being hung by a silk rope.
As far as I’m conscious first fashionable revival of the sheep drive got here in the course of the Millennium celebrations when the Lord Mayor Sir Clive Haydn Martin organized for the driving of some pedigree sheep throughout London Bridge by some members of the Livery Firms – although rigorously avoiding the 2 who may need sheared or slaughtered them, the Woolmen and Butchers.
The London Structure Biennale in 2006 made use not of London Bridge, however the pedestrian Millennium Bridge and this was actually the primary sheep drive throughout this, thankfully lengthy cured of its preliminary wobbles, although I did moderately surprise if the occasion may exceed its design loadings. This was maybe why the police insisted on holding up spectators till the flock had cleared the bridge, a lot to the annoyance of me and the opposite press who felt a Press Card ought to have allow us to by way of.
Since 2006 there have been extra sheep drives – in 2008 by World Tradeers and in 2009 for the 800th anniversary of Previous London Bridge, by the Metropolis whose then Lord Mayor David Lewis was the grandson of a Welsh sheep-farmer. And in 2013 it turned the Nice Annual Sheep Drive organised for Freemen of the Metropolis by the Worshipful Firm of Woolmen, held on London Bridge in September (although in recent times on Southwark Bridge.)
In 2006 round 30 sheep had dropped at a pen at Southwark Cathedral by farmer Andrew Sharp who was a stallholder in Borough Market, and got here with a number of shepherds to assist and was additionally aided by members of the clergy together with the Bishop of Southwark, Tom Butler.
Additionally dealing with the cathedral had been a small and noisy crowd of animal rights protesters. As I commented, “right here the sheep had been being handled nicely, by individuals who so clearly cared for them. You possibly can’t be a profitable sheep farmer with out having a sense for and and understanding of them and a dedication to take care of them.” Most likely for the sheep essentially the most disturbing factor of their day trip in London was the shouts of the protesters.
I took photos of the beginning of the procession after which of the flock and people accompanying it so far as the south finish of the Millennium Bridge. A few of the protesters had adopted as nicely. Police then stopped everybody then behind the sheep of whereas the crossing continued. A couple of minutes later we had been allowed to proceed and I caught up with the sheep as they reached St Paul’s Cathedral and walked with them to Smithfield Market.
The drive led to Smithfield, with the Sheriff of London opening the Bartholomew Honest by reducing a variety of pink ribbons. I took a number of photos across the honest, and of the flypast happening for the Queens official eightieth birthday earlier than going to St John’s Wooden the place mounted troopers had been coming again to barracks with a gun carriage earlier than becoming a member of a guided tour across the bushes within the space.
Extra photos from the Sheep Drive in addition to the opposite issues I photographed on the day starting right here on My London Diary
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All images on this web page are copyright © Peter Marshall.
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Tags: 2006, Andrew Sharp, Bartholomew Honest, Bridge Toll, Butcher’s Firm, Freemen, Nice Annual Sheep Drive, I am an architect, London, London Structure Biennale, London Bridge, London Images, Millennium bridge, peter Marshall, Renzo Piano, RIchard Rogers, sheep drive, Smithfield Market, Southwark Cathedral, St John’s Wooden, Tom Butler, Belief me
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