The Mace-Bearer Magazine - Guild of Mace-Bearers

PRESTON GUILD
Preston Guild is unique in the U.K. It is celebrated only once every 20 years and has a history stretching back 800
years.
Originally it was held to keep the Guild roll (the list of people allowed to trade in the town) up to date but by the
18th Century it had become a huge celebration of civic pride.
What is a Burgess?
There are 2 categories of Guild Burgess:
The ‘in-burgesses’, technically known as the
‘inhabitants’ were originally at the very beginning
of the Guild’s life those who lived within Preston.
The ‘out-burgesses’ or ‘foreigners’ were those
who lived beyond the borough boundaries, as far
away as Ashton, Fishwick and Ribbleton?
Burgess status is hereditary, formerly only from father
to son:
Daughters of living burgesses were admitted in
1992
2012 all offspring of burgesses on the 92 roll will
be eligible
Prominent Guild Burgesses such as Lord Derby and
Lord Clitheroe play particular roles at the Guild court.
The Guild Mayor of the previous Guild or his closest
relative is a Prominent Guild Burgess.
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History of the Guild – Key Dates
1179 Henry II granted a charter which empowered the
Burgesses of Preston to hold a Guild Merchant. Burgesses had
exclusive rights of trading in the town, together with the
responsibility of town administration
1328 First Guild of which there is any reliable record but
likely to have been some before
Guilds were held on an irregular basis until 1542 when the 20
years interval was agreed. Why – Once in a generation and
expensive if more held more frequently
1562 Rule established that the Guild Merchant should start
on the Monday following the Feast of the Decollation of St.
John the Baptist (29th August)
1942 Sequence broken by the Second World War and
postponed until 1952
2012 30 th of the known Guilds to be held.
Rights and Privileges of Burgesses:
None today but most Burgess families want to
renew and add names to the Guild Roll from
attachment to the custom and to renew a
traditional connection with the City
Honorary Burgesses – the custom for Guild Mayor to
exercise his privilege of office in admitting new inburgesses.
Traditionally these have been people who
have been of service to the Guild and the City Council
such as the Guild Stewards, former Mayors, Honorary
Recorder, Alderman, Freemen, Town Clerk/Chief
Executive, prominent people (Tom Finney and
Florence Cook in 1992). Up to 3 nominations can be
made by the Guild Mayor. Also the Guild Clerk admits
the Guild Mayor.