5 replies to this topic

[stephen nulty]

Does anybody know the origins of the “Perrying Ceremony”?

Quoting from the Knowsley Local History web site….

“Prescot once had an unusual tradition known as the Perrying Ceremony. It involved the officers of the Court Leet throwing heated pennies from the windows of the Town Hall into the market place below. People would then scramble to pick them up.”

I managed to get hold of a copy of the film owned by the North Western Film Archive whcich shows the ceremony in all its glory, running for about 15 minutes as I recall. It shows more detail than the usual still shots which exist on some local history sites.

A local historian, Steve Binns, reports that it the ceremony “had the hallmarks of a 13th or 14th century tradition.”

But was it just a manner of distribution of money to the poor? If so it seems a bit unfair, as you would have had to fight for it, and also potentially cruel, because the coins were heated! As the money was issued by the Court Leet, it is clearly NOT a case of somebody amusing themselves at the expense of the poor, so what was its purpose? How much was distributed?

Grateful for any ideas.

[leschip]

I have a vague memory of my Mother telling me of it. I'm 61 so this would be when she was a lass,I seem to remember that it was connected to the Mug Fair.Hope this is of some help.

[stephen nulty]

Les

Thanks for that. I wondered about an association with the Mug Fair, but the fair was fortnightly (as I recall) and I've found it hard to determine exactly when the Perrying Ceremony took place - my assumption was that it was an annual event but I might be wrong.

The film I have of the ceremony is from around 1926 and is followed by film of a parade. Lots of schools/churches/bands on parade. I think that the parade is filmed in Wycherley Street and I thought that it might be turning around there before heading back towards the parish church.

The final scene on the film is of the Ale Tasters stood outside the Deanes House !!!

I'll do some stills capture from the film and post them when I get a chance

[leschip]

Blimey, Stephen, if it is c1926 and Wycherley St. I'll put good money on my Mother being there--she could never resist a parade!!
Les

[sthwales]

You've probably seen it already, but there's mention here http://history.knows...93/59&search=32

Also here http://icliverpool.i...#story_continue

And finally http://www.mersey-ga...utRegister=html

[stephen nulty]

The above image is taken from the NWFA film, dated sometime in the early 1920's.

Taken in Market Place, the people to the upper left are looking up to the Town Hall window waiting for the next coins to be thrown out. I'm told that the coins were farthings and ha'pennies.

Down towards the bottom can be seen the "scrum" taking place to collect the previous handful of coins. The shop window upper right is Stephensons Printers.

Edited by stephen nulty, 21 May 2010 - 12:04 PM.