Hocktide launched with all its usual medieval circumstance

It’s the second Tuesday after Easter so, in Hungerford, it’s Hocktide – the once widespread celebration and sort out (of rents, disputes and commoners rights) after Easter that is, now, only celebrated in Hungerford.

This year’s Hocktide was launched on the steps of the Town Hall (curiously, owned by the Town and Manor of Hungerford and Liberty of Sanden Fee charity, not the town council) just a little before 9 o’clock.  The Constable sent off the Tutti Men to do their work.  And the jury of Commoners, together with officers, formed the Court upstairs in the Town Hall to progress the formal proceedings of Hocktide.

The Court proceedings, even without any prosecutions, are quite a mammoth undertaking.  And the Steward, currently Greg Furr, handled a lengthy agenda – no less than 19 items – with aplomb.  On this occasion, as well as reading out the 52 rules of Hocktide, the big event was the appointment of a new Constable and, after two-and-a-half years in the role, Julie Lloyd handed over to Philip Porter.  The Court applauded Julie’s successful, modernising period in office and looked forward to confirming Philip and the appointment of other officers in a few days’ time.

Meanwhile, the Tutti Men made their way around town.  After the Hocktide lunch – a fine affair, featuring local produce – the Tutti Men traversed the town, demanding rents and privileges (these days, a kiss will usually do).  As well as visiting the town’s hostelries, this included a stop at the children enjoying a craft afternoon at the United Reform Church, where the Tutti Men gave out oranges and Hocktide (chocolate) coins.  They moved on to The Three Swans to end the day (with anchovy toast).

Hocktide finishes on Constable’s Sunday with a parade to St Lawrence’s Church for all the town and its organisations.  For the rest of the year, Town and Manor has an enormous job looking after a lot of Hungerford – the marshes, common, important buildings in the town.  But Hocktide is its absolute best!

Photos by kind permission of Red Water Images and the Organiser of the Children’s event