The traditional Honiton Hot Pennies will be taking place on Tuesday 29th July
The ancient ceremony is said to date back to the 13th Century, when Honiton was granted a Royal Charter. The ceremony has remained unbroken from that time and always takes place on the first Tuesday after 19th July.
It all starts at 12 noon from the Old Pannier Market when The Town Cryer accompanied by The Mayor and local dignitaries, hoist up a garlanded pole with a gloved hand on the top, proclaiming that “no man may be arrested so long as this glove is up”. This was done to ensure everyone and anyone could come to the fair that use to follow the ceremony, without fear of being arrested for their debts.
The first pennies are thrown from the balcony of the former Assembly Rooms above The Old Pannier Market and then a procession follows the garlanded pole to a number of public houses.
It is claimed the reason the pennies are thrown hot is that in the past affluent people took great delight in seeing the peasants burn their fingers whilst collecting them! These days the pennies are (allegedly) merely warm!
However the real origins of the Hot Pennies is still a mystery. One version is that the gentry use to throw hot chestnuts to their surfs in the 13th century.
Whatever the roots of Honiton Hot Pennies, it’s still a great fun event and well worth visiting if you have not seen it before.
Written by Daniel H Pavey
dan@honiton.com
