The annual Knollys Rose Ceremony was held in the City of London on 18 June 2024, when people gathered at All Hallows by the Tower, and progressed to Seething Lane Garden, where a red rose was gathered, before progressing to the Mansion House, where it was presented to the Lord Mayor.

‘The Knollys Rose Ceremony commemorates an ancient City Custom dating back to 1381.

Sir Robert Knollys was a prominent citizen of London and an experienced soldier who supported King Richard II.  He lived with his wife, Lady Constance, in a house on the west side of what is now Seething Lane in the parish of All Hallows by the Tower.

During one of his absences abroad, fighting alongside John of Gaunt, Lady Constance is reputed to have become annoyed with the chaff dust blowing from threshing ground opposite their house, so she bought the property and had it turned into a rose garden.  She also had a footbridge built over the lane, in order to avoid the mud when crossing to the garden.

This was evidently done without the medieval equivalent of planning permission and incurred the wrath of the Lord Mayor of the time, Sir William Walworth.  Sir Robert and his wife were summoned before the Lord Mayor and the Sherriffs, and on 23rd July 1381 were ordered to pay as a rent for their garden one red rose payable each year.  This rose payment was no more than a peppercorn rent, a symbolic fine upon the Knollys family.  The footbridge has long since disappeared, but the legal requirement for the payment of this annual quit-rent has become established as one of the City’s traditions.

This is one of the older City London traditions, although it fell into abeyance in the 17th century, until it was resumed in 1924.  Each summer, the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames pick a rose from the garden in Seething Lane,* on the site of the property acquired by Sir Robert and Lady Knollys, and carry it through the City to the Mansion House, where the Lord Mayor is waiting for the annual fine to be paid.’

* Although there are red rose shrubs in Seething Lane Garden, their flowers are produced far above the ground, so in 2024 cut roses were attached nearer their bases, so that one of these was ‘picked’.

Information on other rose rents would be appreciated; please send it to vickery330@btinternet.com

Text in italics and main image taken from leaflet handed out to passers-by and interested bystanders.

19 June 2024