216. The Knollys Rose Ceremony, All Hallows by the Tower & Mansion House, 18 June 2024

The Knollys Rose Ceremony commemorates an ancient City custom dating back to 1381.  Sir Robert Knollys was a prominent citizen of London and an experienced soldier who assisted King Richard II in putting down the Peasants’ Revolt led by Wat Tyler. He lived with his wife, Lady Constance, in a house on the west side of what is now Seething Lane in the parish of All Hallows by the Tower.

During one of her husband’s absences abroad, fighting alongside John of Gaunt, Lady Constance is reputed to have become annoyed with the chaff dust blowing from threshing ground opposite their house, so she bought the property and had it turned into a rose garden. She also had a footbridge built over the lane, in order to avoid the mud when crossing to the garden,

This was evidently done without the mediaeval equivalent of planning permission and incurred the wrath of the Lord Mayor of the time, Sir William Walworth.  For constructing the bridge and obtaining the garden, Sir Robert and his wife were summoned before the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs, and on 23 July 1381 were ordered to pay as rent for their garden one red rose, payable each year on the Feast of St John the Baptist.

The rose payment was no more than a peppercorn rent, a symbolic fine upon Sir Robert, a leading citizen and a successful and respected soldier.  For this payment, permission was given "to make an hautpas of the height of 14 feet" across the lane.  The footbridge has long since disappeared, but the legal requirement for the payment of this annual quit-rent has become established as one of the City's traditions.

The ceremony, revived in 1924 by the Vicar of All Hallows-by-the-Tower, has become one of the City’s traditions.  It has been arranged by the Company of Watermen and Lightermen since 1960.

The procession starts at All Hallows-by-the-Tower and makes its way to the garden at Seething Lane where the rose is cut.  The garden is on the site of the property acquired by Sir Robert and Lady Knollys, and has connections with Samuel Pepys.  It was owned by the Port of London Authority and reopened in 2018 as part of the redevelopment of Trinity Square.  Rainwater from the roof of 10 Trinity Square is used for the garden's irrigation.  It has a car park beneath (with a rather loud air conditioning system!).

The rose is then placed on an altar cushion and carried by the Verger in procession to the Mansion House where it is presented to the Lord Mayor.  The escort for the rose comprises the Master of the Company, the Verger of All Hallows-by-the-Tower accompanied by the Vicar, Churchwardens, and Beadle and a few company members and guests, all sporting a red rose buttonhole or corsage.

The above is adapted from the website of All Hallows by the Tower, and Wikipedia.  (Well, why re-invent the wheel?)

The 2024 ceremony went as planned.  Those working in and visiting the City must be used to seeing odd processions now and then!  We duly arrived at Mansion House and were welcomed with water (it was a hot day).  The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress arrived; the Lord Mayor was presented with the rose, and the Lady Mayoress with a rose bouquet.  We were then given a glass of champagne and chatted until the Lord Mayor had to leave.

A lunch had been arranged at Watermen’s Hall, so principal guests processed back to the east.  Once there, more champagne (!) and a procession into lunch.  The Master Waterman is a keen bee-keeper and once again his honey had been used in preparation of the meal, in a honeyed glaze for the salmon and in the icecream served for dessert.

Both Master Ted and Murray Craig, Clerk of the Chamberlain's Court, City of London, spoke briefly after a most delicious lunch.

The whole day was most enjoyable and it was fun taking part in an ancient tradition.