Yesterday's Country Customs by Henry Buckton

Author:Henry Buckton
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780752477374
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2012-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

Tutti-men visit Hungerford Workhouse during Hocktide in 1913. (Courtesy of Dr Hugh Pihlens)

On the Monday evening before Tutti-Day, an ale-tasting unfolds in the Corn Exchange. This is a fairly recent addition to the festival, during which the Constable and the official ale-tasters sample various pints and consume a cold buffet, all of which helps fuel their enthusiasm for the following morning and the start of that year’s main event.

At eight o’clock on the morning of Tutti-Day itself, the town crier, or Bellman as he is known, summons all commoners to attend the Hocktide Court from the balcony of the Town Hall by blowing the Constable’s Horn. This horn was presented in 1992 to replace the Lucas Horn of 1634, which was then considered far too old and precious for regular use. The Lucas Horn had itself replaced the even earlier John of Gaunt Horn, which may actually date from the fifteenth century. The Bellman, who is also the assistant bailiff and beadle, then shouts the following proclamation:

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