A CENTURIES-old Newton Abbot tradition was revived on Saturday, July 4, as members of the Court Leet and Court Baron of the Manorial Borough of Newton Abbot carried out their annual ale tasting ceremony.

Members of the Court gathered at the Royal British Legion Club in Marsh Road to begin the historic event, which dates back to the days when local authorities were responsible for checking the quality of ale served within their boundaries.

At 1.30pm, the official proclamation was read on behalf of his Lordship of the Manorial Borough, Keith Stokes-Smith.

It stated that it was the duty of the Court to visit every ale house within the Borough, where the Bailiff would request a sample of the ale being sold so that the Ale Taster could ensure it was ‘fit and wholesome’ for all who visited the establishments.

A total of 14 venues were visited during this year’s ceremony.

At each stop, the Bailiff read an Old English drinking song, first published in 1728: ‘Here's a health to the King and lasting peace, To faction an end, to wealth increase.

‘Come, let us drink it while we have breath, For there's no drinking after death’.

Following the tasting, the Portreeve presented each landlord with a sprig of evergreen, which is traditionally displayed at the entrance to show that the establishment has been visited by the Court.

A certificate was also presented for display inside each premises, confirming that ‘they do serve good ale here’.

The ceremony also included moments of entertainment and camaraderie, with the words of the Ale Taster’s Song being read at selected venues to allow participants a short rest during the afternoon’s busy schedule.

The song tells the tale of a man who finds himself resting in a gutter alongside a pig after an evening’s drinking, before the animal eventually decides to leave.

After the final ale house had been visited, participants returned to the Royal British Legion Club.