Browsed by
Author: ashelley

NEWS BULLETIN

NEWS BULLETIN

Notice of Retirement from FEW Executive at the Forthcoming AGM Bedern Hall York, 18 March 2023 Report to the FEW Executive and to the Court Meeting by the VP/DP FEW business and internal activities have continued to be quiet and are virtually at a standstill with the exception of a few specific enquiries. Gilds/Guilds have been regathering and indicate a restored interest in their activities. Following an area warden’s concerns regarding the legitimacy of Freedom – for clarification, I have…

Read More Read More

NEWS BULLETIN

NEWS BULLETIN

For Guidance Aide Memoire ‘Entitlement’ to Freedom The Municipal Corporations Act, 1835, effectively and initially disbanded the freemen of borough towns and cities and removed their governing powers. Subsequently, the law allowed the freemen to regain their personal ‘right’ to retain the title of ‘freeman’. This being a customary right of liberty given to those in perpetuity. It was a successional title that provided the opportunity for legitimate children of the freeman to be admitted to freedom at adulthood. Customary…

Read More Read More

Reform

Reform

REFORM – Leading to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 The Hustings at Eatanswill (Dickens) During the last two hundred years, the rate of progress in man’s command over nature has been greater than at any previous period. Modern history can be considered as beginning in England from 1780 in a series of dissolving views. With proper roads and greater infrastructure for inter-communications. In the reign of George III the civilisation of the riding-horse and the packhorse gave way to that…

Read More Read More

NEWS BULLETIN

NEWS BULLETIN

I was kindly invited to say a few words to the newly admitted Freemen at Gloucester on Friday 7th October 2022. This was in the presence of the Mayor, Councillor Howard Hyman, the Deputy Mayor and the Sheriff of Gloucester along with the City Marshal, the City Sword Bearer and the Master of Ceremonies. The President, Mr Lee Hensley, of the Gloucester Freemen presented the candidates with certificates for their achievement.

Historic Communal Courts (of Freedom and Liberties)

Historic Communal Courts (of Freedom and Liberties)

Preamble: An early form of administrative court was tribal in origin. Based upon a system whereby all freeborn English and Welshmen (not serfs of slaves) on maturity, were organised in ‘kinship’ community groups. Originally covering territories of ten hides (hide = c120 acres). This represented an area one tenth of a Hundred. The spokesman or leader of each group was their ‘Tithingman’. Behaviour of these groups was recognised by a ‘View of Frankpledge’ to keep the peace and manage behaviour….

Read More Read More

NEWS BULLETIN

NEWS BULLETIN

Accession Proclamation at Sudbury of King Charles III Photo by courtesy of Mrs Fiona Wheeler Photo by courtesy of Mrs V. Herbert The Proclamation took place outside the doors of the Town Hall with Freemen Michael Wheeler and Barry Hibble as Macebearers.

Freemen’s Wives, Gloucester

Freemen’s Wives, Gloucester

The Offices of the Right Worshipful Mayor of the City of Gloucester To Whom it may concern (Regarding Equal Rights) I respectfully wish to make a rightful claim on behalf of married wives of borough Freemen of the City of Gloucester to be admitted to ‘Freedom’ in their own right. This claim is based upon parity and the presently accepted modification of customary law. The claim for admission is based upon recognition in two parts. Statement made by the respected…

Read More Read More

Tribal Rites and their influence on English History and Borough Freedom

Tribal Rites and their influence on English History and Borough Freedom

England’s early cultural history, built-up layer by layer, began with a tribal society from Celtic immigrant communities eventually overrun by Anglo-Saxons. There are many influences today that hark back to practices which are retained from those very early times. On the admission to borough ‘freedom’, a person is required to swear a solemn oath to adhere to the rules of their community. This is normally done under the customary supervision of their elders. Such actions under these circumstances are a…

Read More Read More

NEWS BULLETIN

NEWS BULLETIN

Vice President’s Report to the FEW AGM (by Zoom) September 2022 This has been another limited year, caused by the restrictions of an ongoing Covid Pandemic. Following the last AGM, myself and the Area Wardens have met with some confusion, particularly over the positions of the Officer without Portfolio (nomination) and of clarity concerning the ‘Working Group’. Political difficulties over its membership have prevented an in-depth examination of FEW procedures. Nevertheless, some outline preparations have been started and terms of…

Read More Read More