At this time Sandwich is Master of the King's Swans and Bailiff of Whittlesea Mere.
"By 1378 the office of 'Keeper of the King's Swans' was in existence and in a document entitled "The Lawes, Orders and Customs for Swans", dated 1482/3, the first law states that all swans owned by those who pay less than 5 marks a year Freehold were forefeit to the King. To own swans was, therefore, a status symbol and also provided a tasty ceremonial dish until superseded by the turkey early this century."
"Police have swooped on a group of East Europeans -- and caught them red-handed about to cook a pair of Royal swans. The asylum seekers were barbecuing a duck in a park in Beckton, East London. But two dead swans were also found -- concealed in bags and ready to be roasted.
The tradition of marking newborn swans goes back six centuries, to a time when most of the swans on England's public waters were owned by the monarch.
Later the members of two livery companies (trade guilds), the Company of Dyers and the Company of Vintners, were given the right to keep swans on the Thames River between London and Henley.
Every year since 1363, the monarch's swan master and the swan wardens of the two livery companies row up the Thames, starting at Blackfriars in the center of London and continuing upstream to Abingdon, and "up" all the swan families into the boats, where they are marked with identification numbers.
There are very specific rules governing how ownership is decided, and the six boats, each flying a large silk flag as they row up the river, form a procession that has changed little over the centuries.
CONTACTS: The British Monarchy Official Web Site Buckingham Palace London, SW1A 1AA United Kingdom 44-20-7930-4832 www.royal.gov.uk SOURCES: BkHolWrld-1986, Jul 21 GdWrldFest-1985, p. 95
Swan Upping is a traditional event when the swans on the Upper Thames are marked for identification by The Royal Swan Uppers, who wear the bright scarlet uniform of Her Majesty The Queen. The Swan Uppers travel in traditional rowing skiffs together with Swan Uppers from the Vintners’ and Dyers’ livery companies.
This year they will row along the Thames between Sunbury and Abingdon from 15 to 19 July, 2019. Many schools are invited to meet the Swan Uppers on their journey upriver. The children involved get the opportunity to view cygnets at close quarter and ask questions about swans, the boats used and The Queen’s ownership of mute swans.
Swan Upping plays an important role in the conservation of the mute swan and involves The Queen’s Swan Warden collecting data, assessing the health of young cygnets and examining them for any injuries. Cygnets are extremely vulnerable at this early stage in their development and Swan Upping affords an opportunity to help both adults and cygnets that might otherwise go untreated.
4 Annotations
First Reading
Pedro • Link
At this time Sandwich is Master of the King's Swans and Bailiff of Whittlesea Mere.
"By 1378 the office of 'Keeper of the King's Swans' was in existence and in a document entitled "The Lawes, Orders and Customs for Swans", dated 1482/3, the first law states that all swans owned by those who pay less than 5 marks a year Freehold were forefeit to the King. To own swans was, therefore, a status symbol and also provided a tasty ceremonial dish until superseded by the turkey early this century."
For swan upping on the Thames see...
http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/swans/…
And in this day and age...
"Police have swooped on a group of East Europeans -- and caught them red-handed about to cook a pair of Royal swans. The asylum seekers were barbecuing a duck in a park in Beckton, East London. But two dead swans were also found -- concealed in bags and ready to be roasted.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0…
Second Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
Swan Upping -- every third week in July
The tradition of marking newborn swans goes back six centuries, to a time when most of the swans on England's public waters were owned by the monarch.
Later the members of two livery companies (trade guilds), the Company of Dyers and the Company of Vintners, were given the right to keep swans on the Thames River between London and Henley.
Every year since 1363, the monarch's swan master and the swan wardens of the two livery companies row up the Thames, starting at Blackfriars in the center of London and continuing upstream to Abingdon, and "up" all the swan families into the boats, where they are marked with identification numbers.
There are very specific rules governing how ownership is decided, and the six boats, each flying a large silk flag as they row up the river, form a procession that has changed little over the centuries.
CONTACTS:
The British Monarchy Official Web Site
Buckingham Palace
London, SW1A 1AA United Kingdom
44-20-7930-4832
www.royal.gov.uk
SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Jul 21
GdWrldFest-1985, p. 95
From http://encyclopedia2.thefreedicti…
San Diego Sarah • Link
Photos of this year's swan upping and an explanation of how it's done:
http://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/…
San Diego Sarah • Link
Swan Upping is a traditional event when the swans on the Upper Thames are marked for identification by The Royal Swan Uppers, who wear the bright scarlet uniform of Her Majesty The Queen. The Swan Uppers travel in traditional rowing skiffs together with Swan Uppers from the Vintners’ and Dyers’ livery companies.
This year they will row along the Thames between Sunbury and Abingdon from 15 to 19 July, 2019. Many schools are invited to meet the Swan Uppers on their journey upriver. The children involved get the opportunity to view cygnets at close quarter and ask questions about swans, the boats used and The Queen’s ownership of mute swans.
Swan Upping plays an important role in the conservation of the mute swan and involves The Queen’s Swan Warden collecting data, assessing the health of young cygnets and examining them for any injuries. Cygnets are extremely vulnerable at this early stage in their development and Swan Upping affords an opportunity to help both adults and cygnets that might otherwise go untreated.
Pictures, and more info on what's happening in July https://www.anglotopia.net/britis…