Gloucester’s historic lamprey pie tradition is being celebrated with a new sculpture in the gardens of The King’s Gloucestershire home at Highgrove House near Tetbury.
Gloucester has been presenting a Lamprey Pie to the reigning monarch since the medieval era. By 1200 it had become customary for the City of Gloucester to send the monarch a pie each year. The custom of Gloucester sending the monarch a lamprey pie, decorated with gilded ornaments, at Christmas ended in 1836 when it was considered too expensive. A lamprey pie is still presented by Gloucester to the monarch on special occasions, such as jubilees and coronations.
A stone version of the lamprey pie, carved by Gloucester-based sculptor Debs Harrison, was presented to The King’s Foundation at Highgrove Gardens last week in a ceremony involving outgoing Mayor of Gloucester Councillor Lorraine Campbell, Sheriff Pam Tracey and Town Crier Alan Myatt. The sculpture will be displayed at Highgrove Gardens.
The sculpture was carved using limestone donated by Llanthony Secunda Priory, which itself has connections to the lamprey pie tradition, with the Prior of Llanthony having sent lamprey to King Henry VIII at Windsor Castle in 1530. The gift, to mark King Charles’ coronation, was paid for by private donations from local businesses and individuals. The project was co-ordinated by former City Council Leader Paul James, who is a trustee of Llanthony Secunda Priory.
Sculptor Debs Harrison, who has her studios at the City Works in Alfred Street, Gloucester, said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to carve this stone sculpture to celebrate Gloucester’s historic tradition of gifting a lamprey pie to the British monarch.”
Paul James added, “Over the years I have been involved in quite a few lamprey pie presentations on behalf of the city. I am delighted that this project has come to fruition and will see the lamprey pie tradition represented at Highgrove in a lasting way. The sculpture is stunning and I hope that the thousands of visitors to Highgrove each year will get to learn about this unique tradition.”