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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
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East Devon District Council is holding another exciting family community festival in Honiton on Saturday 12th July 2014 as Allhallows Playing Field from 1pm to 4pm.
The event is being held again partly due to the great success of last years.
Attractions include:
- Face Painting
- Circus Skills run by SWITCH
- Bouncy Castle
- African drumming workshop with HitDrumsNotPeople
- Sports with Honiton Youth Club
- Fingerprinting demonstration by Police
- Sandpit play
- Arts and Crafts
- and many more attractions
And what is more the event is totally free!!
The Rugby Club Bar will be open all afternoon and there will be music sponsored by Otter Windows.
And an the very important Ice Cream Van will be there to help keep everybody cool!
Written by Daniel H Pavey
dan@honiton.com
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There’s a busy month ahead at The Beehive in Honiton this July. The new community and art centre has a lot going on to suit all tastes. Some of the highlights include:
Churchill by Pip Utton
- Saturday 5th July 2014
- 7:30pm
- Tickets £8 Adult, £4 Under 16s
A new play in which Big Ben chimes and strikes thirteen, creating a magical time when for one hour the statues of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London come to life.
"Winston Churchill descends from his plinth to indulge himself in three of his greatest pleasures; a glass of scotch, a cigar, and listening to himself talk.
Sweet Honi ‘n’ Soul in Concert
- Friday 11th July 2014
- 7:30pm
- Tickets £8 Adult and £6 Under 16
Honiton’s own rock and soul choir will be performing many popular songs.
12 Years a Slave - Community Cinema
- Friday 18th July 2014
- 7:30pm
- Tickets £5 on the door
Oscar winning film based on a true story set in Pre-Civil War United States. Soloman Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofar), a free black man from update New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Stones & Bones - Squashbox Theatre Co.
- Saturday 19th July 2014
- 11am
- Tickets £8 Adult, £6 Child, £25 Family of four
A quirky mix of puppet show, natural history, comedy cabaret and mystery!
Plymouth Military Wives Choir
- Saturday 26th July 2014
- 7:30pm
- Tickets £10
An evening to celebrate Honiton “The Home of the Baton” with the Plymouth Military Wives Choir.
The Beehive has a Café & Bar available at events and in the evenings.
For all event details and bookings visit The Beehive website: www.beehivehoniton.com.
Written by Daniel H Pavey
dan@honiton.com