ve decided to do some a little different for this blog entry. I’ve been focussing on different areas of London, and will continue to do so, but I thought it would be fun to do some digging and find out what is still technically illegal and what ancient laws still exist today. Did you know, for instance, that it is illegal to be drunk in a pub in England? Or that it is illegal to carry a plank, or indeed a ladder, wheel, pole, placard or hoop along the pavement in the Metropolitan Police District?
The 1872 Licensing Act basically states that it is illegal to be drunk in any pub, it states “Every person found drunk in any highway or other public premises, shall be liable to a penalty.” It’s a difficult one this, seeing as it is the purpose of a pub to sell alcoholic drinks to people who want to buy them, therefore making them drunk. It was written into the act to encourage people to drink less, the idea that they would roll out of the pub unable to stand would lead to a night in the police station and therefore give them a reason not to drink so much. Nowadays it is unlikely that we would be arrested for having one-too-many at our local pub quiz, an arrest would come from someone presenting as “drunk and disorderly.” There is another part of the 1872 Licensing Act that amused me. It states “Every person…who is drunk while in charge on any highway or other public place of any carriage, horse, cattle, steam engine…shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings…or to imprisonment.” Yes, it is illegal to be dunk in charge of cattle. Or a steam train. So that should be a lesson to us all, no herding livestock when intoxicated.
Which leads me to my next strange law. It is perfectly legal for anyone who holds the key to the City of London to herd sheep across London Bridge. This privilege is also known as the Freedom of the City which is an honour bestowed upon a valued member of the community, dignitary or visiting celebrity. Since Medieval times sheep farmers have been able to herd their sheep across London Bridge to sell their wool in the markets of the City of London. It is now a ceremonial spectacle as there are no more markets and therefore no need to use the bridge, but it is quite a sight when the Worshipful Company of Woolmen livery company drive their sheep across London Bridge to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
London has a number of other laws which include the 19th century law banning the beating of carpets after 8am on the streets; a Transport for London rule that prevents people from queue-jumping in tube stations (well that’s on that is really enforced. NOT.); The Metropolitan Police Act 1989 that bans the “making or using a slide upon ice or snow in any street or thoroughfare if it creates common danger to your fellow Londoners”; the same act also bans games or flying kites which gives London a bit of a “tow-from-Footloose” feel. Do you remember being able to feed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square? Do you know who to thank for the law banning this activity? Former Labour Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. An odd law, but compared to the others I have written about so far its quite reasonable, that forbids the feeding of the birds he deemed “rats with wings”. To keep the pigeons away from the square, a hawk is sent flying in the surrounding area.
Contrary to popular belief, MPs can indeed get into trouble. It is illegal to wear a suit of armour in Parliament. The Bearing of Armour Act dates back to 1313 when Edward II to prevent nobles from threatening to use force when parliament was called. The full name of the act is “A Statute Forbidding the Bearing of Armour (1313). I’d quite like to see them try and sit down in a full suit of armour in those small seats in the back benches. Might shake things up a bit.
This has been a fun topic to research, and I will leave you with my favourite laws: it is illegal to handle a salmon in suspicious circumstances. This sounds like its from the Middle Ages but in actual fact it is from the Salmon Act 1986 to try to curb salmon poaching. I’ll leave it to you to decide whether someone is holding a salmon suspiciously.
Thanks for visiting my blog, I’ll be back soon with more facts from the next London borough, and until then, as always, stay safe and well.
Gilbert Tours 