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Custom · Leicester

Easter Monday hare hunt

Join the hunt to the Mayor's door.

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Illustration: Easter Monday hare hunt
The legend
Custom

Easter Monday hare hunt

Hounds behind, Mayor ahead.

Stand where it happened

What's there
Suburban streets
Legend from
Leicester civic custom
Tone
Wry
CustomsHunts

Before you go

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  • Dane Hills
  • Near A47
  • The pin is approximate.
  • DateEaster Monday (lapsed)

From the hag's bower to the Mayor's door.

Trubshaw says an Easter Monday fair was held on the Dane Hills near Black Annis' Bower, with a mock hare hunt that started at the Bower and ended as a procession to the Mayor's door; quoting Roy Palmer, it was 'already ancient' when first mentioned in town records in 1668. Story of Leicester describes an Easter Monday fair on the Dane Hills. The custom has lapsed.

Sources

  1. Black Annis and her Bower (Bob Trubshaw, Trans. Leics Arch. & Hist. Soc. 2006), via DocsLib —
  2. Black Annis and Dane Hills, Story of Leicester (Leicester City Council) —

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