Sheep across London Bridge

Today marks the 800th year since the first London Bridge was built. The present bridge is the third. Yes, London Bridge has fallen down, not once but twice. I have wrote about this before.

There was a celebration at London Bridge today. As a result, the bridge was pedestrianised. To celebrate this event, there was an enactment of the medieval life in London. After all, London Bridge was the first bridge connecting two parts of London, the north and the south as they are known today; separated by the River Thames.

Among those traditions enacted was the medieval education, handicrafts and the work of the mysteries and guilds. But the highlight of the event was the Liverymen and Freemen exercising their ancient ‘rights' to drive sheep ‘tax free' across the Bridge.

Medieval education

Traditional handicrafts

Liverymen and Freemen exercising their rights to drive sheep across London Bridge tax-free

Liverymen and Freemen in those days were members or freed members of Livery Companies. Livery Companies are in my opinion similar to professional institutions in our modern time. It's easy to identify a livery company because "The Worshipful Company of.." would precede the name of the livery. For example, The Worshipful Company of Bakers, The Worshipful Company of Carpenters, The Worshipful Company of Engineers, The Worshipful Company of Constructors etc and the list goes on.

One of the weird privileges of a liveryman is to drive sheep across London Bridge tax-free. In the medieval days, London Bridge was a toll bridge and one had to pay to get their sheep (or other animals) across.

A video of the ceremonial rite by the Lord Mayor of London

So getting across London Bridge tax-free was a privilege. It must have been like in today's context of passing through tolled highways without having to pay toll!