Herb Strewer
Encyclopedia
The post of Herb Strewer is an obsolete position in the United Kingdom
dating back to the late 17th century. Their primary duty was to distribute herbs and flowers throughout the royal apartments in order to mask less pleasant aromas (such as those from the Thames which at that time, before the construction of London
's network of sewers, was particularly unhygienic).
The earliest recorded Herb Strewer was Bridget Rumney, who held the post from 1660 to 1671 and received an annual salary of £24, as well as two yards of superfine scarlet
cloth for livery
, as did all of her successors. The last full-time Herb Strewer was Mary Rayner, who served George III
and two of his sons for a total of 43 years.
For his coronation
in 1820, George IV
appointed an old friend, Anne Fellowes, to the post, and she and her six attendants scattered flowers and herbs along the carpet of Westminster Abbey
. She applied for the job again on the occasion of the coronation of William IV
but, owing to cutbacks in the ceremony, her services were not required. Neither Queen Victoria nor any subsequent British
monarchs have appointed a Herb Strewer for their coronations; however the Fellowes to this day claim this position for the eldest unmarried daughter of the family.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dating back to the late 17th century. Their primary duty was to distribute herbs and flowers throughout the royal apartments in order to mask less pleasant aromas (such as those from the Thames which at that time, before the construction of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's network of sewers, was particularly unhygienic).
The earliest recorded Herb Strewer was Bridget Rumney, who held the post from 1660 to 1671 and received an annual salary of £24, as well as two yards of superfine scarlet
Scarlet (cloth)
Scarlet was a type of fine and expensive woollen cloth common in Medieval England.The name derives from the Latin scarlata, from the Arabic siqillat "fine cloth" and that again from the Persian saqirlat. The weaving technique also had its origin in Central Asia, and made the cloth elastic by...
cloth for livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
, as did all of her successors. The last full-time Herb Strewer was Mary Rayner, who served George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
and two of his sons for a total of 43 years.
For his coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
in 1820, George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
appointed an old friend, Anne Fellowes, to the post, and she and her six attendants scattered flowers and herbs along the carpet of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. She applied for the job again on the occasion of the coronation of William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
but, owing to cutbacks in the ceremony, her services were not required. Neither Queen Victoria nor any subsequent British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
monarchs have appointed a Herb Strewer for their coronations; however the Fellowes to this day claim this position for the eldest unmarried daughter of the family.