Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival in London
The Harvest Festival is an event that collects charity for many different causes in London. The festival is organized by the Society of Pearly Kings and Queens, which is a charitable organization established in 1911 by Henry Croft. In London each borough has a Pearly King and Queen who are elected from the community of working class residents. The festival is attended by many Mayors, Marching Bands, Donkey Carts along with the Pearly Kings and Queens. Participants of this event are dressed up in traditional outfits filled with pearl buttons. On the day of the festival participants gather at Guildhall Yard at noon and start off the festivities with a parade followed by a series of entertaining acts.
Visit:Pearly Kings and Queens Website
Instructions
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History
Costermongers in London were notorious for their unethical habits since the sixteenth century. By the nineteenth century, the community became fed up with this reputation and elected several elders as Pearly Kings and Queens to establish peace and control crimes. These Pearly Kings and Queens used to wear clothes and accessories filled with pearl buttons which is the basis for their name.
Henry Croft, an orphan street sweeper, was inspired by the clothing of the Pearly Kings and Queens. In 1875 he used the idea to collect charity for his orphanage. The collection drive was so successful that Croft was asked by other organizations to collect charity for them. In 1911 the Pearly Society was established and it successfully continued collecting charity to this day.
The Harvest festival is traditionally celebrated in early October. Thirteen years back the Pearly Kings and Queens Society started having this ceremony every year at St Martin’s Field Church in the center of West End of London. -
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Activities
During the festival proceedings are kicked off with a parade that winds through the city starting from Guildhall Yard and ending at St Mary-le-Bow Church. The parade is concluded by a service at the church. There are other activities at the festival including Maypole dancing, Morris dancing and marching bands.
This year donations will be offered to the Whitechapel Mission. -
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Important Dates
Autumn – September/October (Usually first Sunday of October every year) -
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Location
Guildhall, Gresham Street, London EC2P 2EJ, United Kingdom -
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How to Contact
Contact No. +44 20 8778 8670
Email: info@pearlysociety.co.uk
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How to Get There
By Tube
Nearest subway station is Bank Station on Prince’s Street. Passengers should exit the underground stop and head to the left side of Prince’s Street and make a left turn on Grisham Street. This will lead them to Guildhall in just four minutes. View Map.
By Bus
Bus numbers 21, 43, 76, 141, N76 will take you to City of London, Bank Station Princes Street (stop A) from where it is 3 minutes walk to Guildhall. Same is the walking distance from bus stop of Bank Station Poultry (Stop K) where bus numbers 8, 21, 43, 141, 242, and 710 arrive.
