High Wycombe, High Street c.1955

Photo ref: H84051

More about this scene

Beyond the Red Lion (left), in the 1950s still a hotel, the tall many-chimneyed buildings of 1901 flank Corporation Street, the road cut in 1900 and originally intended as the site for council offices. Weighing in the Mayor This curious ceremony was 'revived' in 1892 by the then mayor-elect, Charles Harman Hunt. He claimed that the ceremony had lapsed in 1835; but there is no mention of it in preceding centuries, although there is a tradition is that it had started in the 17th century. Whatever the truth, it is now an annual ritual in which the mayor is weighed to see if he has grown fat at the ratepayers' expense. Following a procession in full regalia, the mayor, the councillors and other dignitaries process from the Council Chamber to the area in front of the Guildhall where the scales have been set up. The weighing- in result is called out by the beadle, who if the mayor has gained weight calls 'and some more' (boos from the crowd), or if he has lost weight or stayed the same calls out 'and no more' (hearty cheers all round). The charter trustee councillors value this curious ceremony highly.