Leicester Damask Rose Ceremony

Until very recently I thought that the only rose rent  to survive in the UK was the Knollys Rose Ceremony in London (see separate article) but there is a lesser-known equivalent held each June in Leicester. Quarter days marked dates in the year upon which rents became due and 24th June is one of those days; Quit Rents were token rent payments which acknowledge ownership of property without actual money changing hands and in this case a rose and four old pennies is handed over in payment. In Leicester  the rent is paid for the O’Neill’s pub on Loseby Lane.The custom has been quietly continuing since the 1600s with a brief break in the late 20th/early 21st century. The practice is now firmly revived and the Mayor and local dignitaries gather outside the Town Hall in their regalia, then process to the bar for the brief ceremony where the flower and coins are handed to the landlord at the door.

Helpful Hints

It’s been revived for several years now so should hopefully be safe for the future – since the revival the timing has altered a little from year to year and while usually fixed to the 24th the dating depends upon the Mayor’s Diary and commitments at the pub, so I’d advise it’s wise to double-check before turning up. In 2023 it was on Saturday June 24th, 2.45 at the Town Hall and 3 pm  in Loseby Lane. 2024 details are yet to be announced.

Thanks to Ross Parish for drawing this event to my attention and the the Mayor’s Office for their help!

Click here for the Lord Mayor: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/about-us/the-lord-mayor/

or  here (put Damask Rose in the search box): http://www.leicester.gov.uk

Click here for a first hand account: https://traditionalcustomsandceremonies.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/custom-revived-damask-rose-ceremony-leceister/