On the 25th of June 2023, two ceremonial maces in the care of Axbridge Town Trust, become 400 years old!
An event to mark this occasion will be held in the Town Hall and King Johns Hunting Lodge Museum. Starts at 2.00pm in the Town Hall. All are welcome, but numbers will be limited and managed on the day. View the event poster with more information here
The Maces date back to the reign of James I, when a Charter of 1623 granted Axbridge the right to have two Maces. One was to be carried by the “Sergeant-at-Mace”, who would be elected after nominations and whose duty was to attend the Mayor. The other was to be carried by the Bailiff, an annual office, originally selected from amongst the Inferior Burgesses. Both were to proceed in front of the Mayor bearing gilt or silver maces engraved with the Royal coat of arms.
The Maces retired from public use in 2020. They are both extremely fragile and will soon be on public display in The King Johns Hunting Lodge Museum. They have been replaced with two beautiful hand carved maces, created by Axe Valley Menshed, for Axbridge Town Council to use at civic ceremonies.
An event on Sunday the 25th of June will mark this significant occasion. Starting at 2.00pm in Axbridge Town Hall the afternoon will see local historian John Page give a talk on Maces, their history, and the Axbridge Maces and how they’ve survived for 4 centuries!
There will be a ceremonial handover to the newly created maces, and the originals will be placed in their new home; The King Johns Hunting Lodge Museum in Axbridge, where a museum grade case has been secured to enable these historical items to remain on public view.
