It was a delight to attend the annual paying of 'rent' in the form of 'a fish' at the Billingsgate fish market as the Deputy Chairman of the Markets Commitee.
Billingsgate Market has been run by the City of London Corporation for over 600 years, but moved to the Docklands, in the authority of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in 1982. Under the terms of the lease between the two bodies, the annual rent paid by the City to Tower Hamlets is 'the gift of one fish.'
The Lord Mayor of London visits Billingsgate Market each year to pay the traditional rent to the Tower Hamlets Mayor. This year this was Alderman Alan Yarrow, a fishmonger liveryman himself!
The deal of the nominal rent was agreed in 1982 when the market moved to Tower Hamlets from its former home in the city and was designed to encourage the development of the market and preserve jobs.
The payment is traditionally passed on to a good cause in Tower Hamlets, usually sheltered housing or a group working with the elderly.
The fish rent is a charming ritual but the really interesting part of the vist was to appreciate the vitality of Billingsgate as a modern market selling fish from around the world.
The market is open Tuesday to Saturday from 4am-9.30am ans is also home to the seafood cookery school.