Sheriff's Assize of Ale

This article is about the modern charity event. For the original medieval law it is based on, see Assize of Bread and Ale.

The Sheriff's Assize of Ale is a charity event that takes place in the English cities of York and Gloucester, led by the sheriff in each city.

Origin

In mediaeval times, the kings were concerned that ale should be of a suitable quality for the people. A law was put in place, demanding that each the sheriffs should summon together his sergeants to test the quality of the ale. Any sergeant who failed to answer the summons was guilty of an offence and liable to fines or the pillory.^[1]

Modern-day event

York

In York, the event takes place in August each year. The sheriff follows a route around the city's participating pubs. The group is accompanied by The City Waites (a civic mediaeval musical band) and other citizens. Members of the public can enjoy and take part in fundraising activities. In participating public houses there are treasure maps, and people taking part can win prizes.^[2]

The custom of the Assize was revived in York in 1990 after a gap of 150 years by the then-sheriff.^[1]

Gloucester

In Gloucester, the custom takes place in a rather different way, usually during October each year. The sheriff has an "Ale Conner": an individual tasked with sitting on a wooden stool, onto which a small amount of ale has been poured, for a period of three minutes while wearing a pair of leather breeches. An ale fails the assize if the Ale Conner's trousers stick to the stool after the three minute period, and passes if the Ale Conner is able to move freely. The tradition was reintroduced in Gloucester in 2003 by the then sheriff of Gloucester.^[3]

Further reading

Gloucester sheriff tests ale in quirky medieval tradition. BBC