Hocktide Festival & Tutti Men

Way back in the Fourteenth Century, John of Gaunt gave Hungerford special hunting and fishing rights and the festival today is the commemoration and continuation of this by the townsfolk – around 100 properties still have commoners' rights and their owners are the Commoners of the court. On Hocktide Day the festivities begin with the appearance of the Bellman on the Town Hall balcony at 8am, summoning the Commoners to Court, then perambulating the town.
The special court is held upstairs at the Town Hall in the morning chaired by the Constable, whilst two nattily dressed Tuttimen (who carry flower-decorated poles with an orange on top) call at the commoners’ houses around the town accompanied by the Orangeman and Tutti Wenches, giving out oranges and asking for donations or kisses en route throughout the day. Tutti men are so-called regardless of gender!

The tasty Commoners Lunch takes place during the afternoon at the Corn Exchange on the ground floor of the Town Hall: expect speeches, toasts, and the tasty but lethal Plantagenet Punch. The meal is followed by Shoeing the Colts, during which first-time visitors have a horseshoe nailed to their heel by the blacksmith until they call “Punch”.

The residents particularly enjoy watching Colts being wrestled to the ground for their shoeing, but they’re gentler with ladies who get to sit on a chair (or, as in my case, get carried to it!). After the fun and frolics, anchovies on toast are served at the Three Swans across the road from 5pm then further serious drinking takes place with the return of the Tuttimen from their rounds around 9pm. The local band also plays free of charge during the evening at the Corn Exchange.

Видео Hocktide Festival & Tutti Men канала Britclip