Constable’s Due in the Tower of London- ロンドン塔の年間行事
serious look, before ceremony starts :Chief Yeoman Warder and Yeoman Gaoler
Tower of London
A medieval castle facing a modern glass-covered building with approximately 1000 years of history. It has been used as a fortress, a royal palace, and even as a prison, retaining traces of its past throughout its towers. Since 1988, it has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the four World Heritage Sites in London.
What is Constable ？
Would it be like a "castle steward"- “Jo-Dai” in Japan? These were the individuals who oversaw the Tower of London in the absence of the monarch.
Historically, the Constable of the Tower of London was responsible for the operation, maintenance, and security management of the tower.
Thomas Becket, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket (13th century), and the Duke of Wellington (19th century), who achieved victory for Britain in the Napoleonic Wars, both served as Constables at some point in their careers.
Among the constable's duties was the supervision and protection of prisoners within the tower, a role that dates back to around 1078 when William the Conqueror established the Tower of London. Nowadays, the main role of the constable includes executing ceremonies, among other responsibilities.
Constable of the Tower - Sir General Gordon Messenger
The Constable of the Tower of London who took office in 2022 is Mr. Gordon Messenger, marking the first appointment from the Royal Navy in British history.
He kindly agreed to be photographed, wearing a hat adorned with a swan feather. In the past, swans swimming under London Bridge were considered as gifts to the Constable.
In ancient times, it is said that horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, and other animals that fell from London Bridge (not Tower Bridge) were also collected as dues! It seems anything that fell was considered as dues 😅 Additionally, herbs grown within the Tower of London and carts that fell into the tower's moat were all presented to the Constable.
Constable's Due
They present wine barrels hanging from poles to the Constable in front of King's House. The timber-framed buildings in Tower Green date back to the Tudor period of the 16th century.
The term "Due" here refers to offerings or tribute. It's similar to the concept of feudal dues. This is a traditional annual event familiar to the Constable (castle steward) of the Tower of London. This ceremony is conducted annually at the Tower of London by the Royal Navy, and this year, 2024, marks its 360th anniversary.
In the past, whenever ships arrived in the city, they were required to dock at the Tower of London's wharf to unload their cargo. Even today, whenever naval ships dock at the wharf, the captain must present an offering to the Constable, traditionally in the form of a wine barrel.
Escorted by Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters), these barrels are transported from the wharf into the Tower of London and ultimately presented in the courtyard of the "King's House," where the Constable resides, known as Tower Green.
after the ceremony?- once delivered to the King's House, the barrel is opened, and those involved partake in drinking it. It's said to contain around 2 liters. I'd like to lend a hand with that as well!
The building with the blue lamp on the left is the King's House, the residence of the Constable. It's not where the king lives. From left - Sir General Gordon Messenger (Constable of the Tower ), Rob Fuller(chief Yeoman Warder), Debra Whittingham (Deputy Governor)
