Tower Green: HM The Tower of London (2nd October 1996)
On a pleasant afternoon, Wednesday the 2nd October 1996 I was very privileged at being able to attend the ceremony for the Installation of the 157th Constable of The Tower of London, Field Marshal Sir Peter Anthony Inge GCB. This particular ceremony dates back to 1078, the time of William the Conqueror. In medieval times Constables would almost certainly have been Knights who were rewarded for their services to the King. With Sir Geoffrey De-Mandervill being the first to carry the coveted title, the Constable for the Tower is probably the oldest secular office in the United Kingdom.
Inlike the nightly Ceremony of the Keys this spectacle of pageantry takes place just once every 5 years and can only be viewed by a small number of officially invited guests of the Yeoman Body and other participants. As you can imagine, with its array of colourful uniforms and rousing marches this historic event stands tall on pomp and circumstance and is certainly something to behold. The troops on parade at the 1996 Installation were as follows:
| Guard of Honour, provided by: |
The Green Howards |
| Flanks Guard, provided by: |
The Royal regiment of Fusiliers and
Honourable Artillery Company |
| Band, provided by: |
The Kings Division |
| Not forgetting, of course, The Yeoman Body |
The Ancient Privileges of the Constable of HM The Tower of London read out during the Constables Dues Ceremony.
Here are the ancient privileges of the Constable as read out by the captains of Her Majesty's ships. Although it is no longer practised this ruling still stands and the following script is the exact wording as used during the Constables Dues Ceremony.
To the Constable of the ancient Palace and Fortress of Her Majesty's Tower of London, Greetings.
Whereas King Richard the second in 1381, the fourth year of his reign, granted certain fees pertaining to the Constable, be it noted that we read those this day which treat wine;
The King our sovereign maketh the Constable of the Tower of London and giveth in fee yearlie forkeeping of YT;
| Item |
The said Constable shall have off every galley that cometh two roundlett of wyne, and of all manner of dainties, a great quantitie. |
| Item |
The said Constable shall have off every shippe that cometh wyth wynes, two bottles, either of them containing a gallon, one before, the other after the maste. |
| Item |
The Lieutenant shall have off every galley that cometh a roundlett of wyne and, in the absence of the Constable, off every shopp two bottles as aforesaid. |
| And whereas King Richard the second in the sixth year of his reign renewed these grants pertaining to the Constable, which he stated to have run from time immemorial; |
| Item |
From every shopp laden with wyne from Bordeaux, or elsewhere, coming to the said city, one flagon from before and another from behind the maste. |
Whereas I ---------------- am captain of Her Majesty's ship securely moored abeam of Her Majesty's good grace.
Constable (Lieutenant or Resident Governor in his absence) replies
I thank you sir, for the handsome discharge of your Dues. I accept the wyne with gratitude. When we have seen it safely bestowed in the Coeur De Lyon room, let us all ascend to the Council Chamber and refresh ourselves. |
