Plymouth, Water Supply | The Fishing Feast

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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

THE FISHING FEAST

Ever since the completion of the Plymouth or Drake's Leat in 1591, the Corporation of Plymouth appear to have undertaken an annual survey of the leat and waterworks at Weir Head.

The annual survey was an older event than the Fishing Feast, though. In the Receiver's accounts for the year 1603-04 it is recorded that '£4 14s 0d was given to Mr Walter Elforde his freedome and one hundred of deal-bordes in regard of the inheritance of the Weare Heade of the water that cometh hether to Plymouth, where the Maior and his brethen do usuallie ride once a yere'. [1]

R N Worth, the Plymouth historian, concluded that the Feast probably started between 1696 and 1717. The reason for that assumption is simple: the Corporation had been trying to get a new Charter but their attempts had failed and they had therefore sought the help of the a nobleman, Sir Francis Drake, the grandson of the famous Elizabethan seaman. He succeeded and as a reward they gave him the Recordership of Plymouth in substitution for the Earl of Bath, who was in disgrace at that time. [1]

In the Houses of Parliament Sir Francis probably played heavily on his famous forebear to get the Charter renewed but he then made several attempts to convert Plymouth into his pocket borough. On several occasions he failed to get his candidates returned to Parliament and he seems to have fallen out of favour in the Borough. It was during his Recordership, which ended in 1717, that St Nicholas Island was first referred to as Drake's Island and it was in 1731 that the earliest reference to the Feast and Survey appears in the City's archives. It was apparently well established by that time so it is thought likely that it was started in 1706-07 when Mr Samuel Allen was the Mayor of Plymouth. He gained an excellent reputation for the 'Goodness of his meat and drink at his Entertainments'. It was not until 1720 that the event is mentioned by name in the accounts for the Town's mills. [1]

The Corporation acquired the mills in 1627 and were they were leased out annually. After the Siege of Plymouth during the Civil War, the Corporation gave a quarter of the profits of the Fishing Feast to the Hospital of the Orphan's Aid as interest on the sums of money borrowed from them for the defence of the Town. But this was not quite as generous as it seems because the charity contributed a quarter of the cost of the event in the first place. In 1731 this payment was made to a Mr George Foot and apparently covered the previous year's event as well but there is no evidence that the event was held every single year. [1]

Once the Corporation and their guests had assembled at the Head Weir, the ceremony could begin. First the Borough Engineer filled a goblet with pure water taken from Burrator Reservoir, and handed this to the Chairman of the Water Committee. The Chairman handed this to the Mayor with the request that he drink from it and toast 'to the pious memory of Sir Francis Drake'. Each member of the Corporation then took the cup and repeated the toast. [1]

Another goblet was then filled with wine, which the Mayor then drinks to the toast 'May the descendants of him who brought us water never want wine'. This was again repeated by the members of the Corporation. [1]

The senior of the two goblets, or Loving Cups, was a silver-gilt one, inscribed 'the Gyft of John Wyht of London Haberdasher to the Mayor of Plymouth and his Brethren forever to drink crosse one to ye other at their feastes or meetings who died the 5th June, 1585'. It had a fluted baluster stem chased with fruit, etc., and three heads in relief on the body. The hallmark was a conjoined WC, 1584-5, London. [1]

Also in silver-gilt, the second goblet was inscribed 'The Guift of Sir John Gayer, Aldmeran of London. Ano. Domini 1648'. The maker's mark was a Hound Sejant. It had a hammered body, with the coat-of-arms of the Borough of Plymouth and those of Sir John. [1]

Once the ceremony had concluded the party moved to Burrator Lodge, opposite which a large marquee had been erected for the luncheon. Obviously the menu varied from year to year but as an example the one served at 12.30pm on Saturday July 16th 1960, when Alderman F J Stott JP was Lord Mayor and Alderman R H Baker was Chairman of the Water Committee, comprised Grape Fruit Cocktail or Consomme Madeira; Fried Burrator Trout; Raised Chicken and Ham Pie or Cold Turkey, Cold Chicken, Cold Beef, Cold Ham or Ox Tongue, with salads; Apple pie and Cream, Fruit Salad and Cream or Neapolitan Ices. Coffee was then served. [1]

There were three Toasts: to the Queen; to Our Guests; and to the Lord Mayor, the Chairman and Members of the Water Committee. The last was proposed by Vice-Admiral Sir Lancelot Peile KBE CB DSO MVO, Admiral-Superintendent of HM Dockyard. [1]

A programme of music was performed by the City of Plymouth Light Orchestra, under the direction of Mr Ted Coleman. [1]

Sources:

[1] City of Plymouth, "The Lord Mayor's Survey of the Waterworks and Ye Fyshinge Feaste, 16 July 1960", programme and a contribution on the origins of the Fishing Feast by Mr C E Welch MA, Archivist at the City Library, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth, 1960.