Wait, that could this post be all about? Oh, but you MUST read it, wait until you see the EMPTY boots photo, it's a bit spooky! It is all about London's square mile and you may find it just here!
Years ago, when I was first writing to Richard, he sent me a book, "Undiscovered London" and much of what is mentioned in the article was in that book. (Although looking at the book now, so many of the buildings are no longer there!)
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| image of Sir Thomas More from wikipedia |
A livery collar or chain of office is a collar or heavy chain, usually of gold, worn as insignia of office or a mark of fealty or other association in Europe from the Middle Ages onwards.
The livery collars are not only worn by British and Irish mayors but also, by the mayors in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, which you might expect, but also, in the Netherlands, Norway and Germany!
I saw on the BBC today that there were high winds in England and for those flying into the London airports, many flights were cancelled and some of the incoming flights were diverted to other airports. When you have dear ones who fly to England, you have to pay attention to these kinds of things! Hope all my English friends are okay! (I say English, because it looks as if Scotland missed this wind!)
I again learn something new from you. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emma! I drove my teachers crazy in school, but you already knew that, I bet! :-)
Deleteinteresting.
ReplyDeleteI love to read the BBC online, you would too, I think!
DeleteLove Lord Mayor Fiona's hat in that photo. :)
ReplyDeleteI know! It looks as if it could knock her over it is so big!
DeleteA very interesting link. Yes Mayors in Australia wear chains, and many years ago when my husband worked in local government, I was tasked with removing the mayor's chain from its tattered ribbon background and re-attaching it to a new and better quality back-ribbon. Ah, the things wives do.
ReplyDeleteAh, the wife that can be-ribbon...it sounds like a romantic novel! :-)
DeleteHere in Edmonton, our mayor's chain of office rests on a big beaver pelt stole because our city originated as a Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post. Here's a photo of it in all its magnificence, LOL! (Apparently it's hellishly hot to wear in the summer, so the beaver pelt can be taken off then):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/facts_figures/edmonton-symbols.aspx
Ha! I just looked at that beaver pelt! That would not have even been considered in warmer climes, I am sure!
DeleteThanks for the link, Debra!!
I have seen many pictures like the one of Sir Thomas Moore, but never knew the name of the livery collar nor how widespread its use is. So interesting!
ReplyDeleteYes, that is really why I thought of this post. Anyone reading the piece might think that collar might only be in that London guild, but I knew it was used all over England but looking further, I found it was used in many other countries, but NOT the USA! :-)
DeleteThanks for sharing that. Very interesting. I think I just thought it was part of the costume for the times.
ReplyDeleteI was very familiar with the photo of Sir Thomas More, so I was tickled to connect the collar with him.
DeleteFascinating! There's a fact that i either never knew or forgot, how they could identify the person in office.
ReplyDeleteYou know me, I find these kind of things endlessly fascinating!
DeleteThose empty boots are a bit spooky!
ReplyDeleteAnd it is the kind of thing that just seems very British to me, the sight of the empty boots to show the person who longer fills them. Still, a bit spooky though!
DeleteI've got a heavy chain...it's outside padlocked to something...perhaps I should wear it when I go out next and I'll be mistaken for being the new mayor. (We had a local council election a couple of weeks ago)!
ReplyDeleteI'll wear my boots and keep them on, though!
Mayor Lee... I think that is a GREAT idea, go for it!
DeleteThe Mayor With Her Boots On...THAT could be your slogan! :-)
What an interesting custom. Here in Hawaii, it would probably be made with woven lauhala leaves, feathers or flowers.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, your lovely leis! What a beautiful custom, to have leaves and flowers woven together...I hope to make it to Hawaii one day. ALOHA! xx
DeleteBy coincidence, just found an old book online called Panoramas of Lost London with many images on google to look at including Tower Bridge being constructed. Hard to match the long rows of drab working class terrace buildings with the glass and steel towers of London today
ReplyDeleteYou know, I saw London for the first time in 1981 and I marvel at how different it looks every time I visit that city! I do miss a lot of the Victorian buildings but I still like a lot of the modern ones, but not all of them! :-)
DeleteI don't think I've ever seen Boris wear his Livery chain. Ken Livingston would wear his all the time. I can only assume Boris sold it to Cash 4 Gold and bought booze.
ReplyDeleteHa! You are so funny, you should use that last sentence and write a country song. When it is a hit song, you can thank me! :-)
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