Damian Lewis Herds Sheep Across London Bridge in Quirky Medieval Tradition

As a Londoner born and raised, I’m quite familiar with the quirky traditions and colorful history that permeate my hometown. And yesterday, I had the delight of witnessing one of the lesser known yet deeply rooted ceremonial events that occur each year in September – the driving of sheep across London Bridge. Read below “Damian Lewis Herds Sheep Across London Bridge in Quirky Medieval Tradition”.

This lighthearted custom dates back over 800 years to the Middle Ages, when sheep farming constituted a major industry and shepherds would herd their flocks into the city center to sell the wool. Driving livestock across the thoroughfare served a sensible purpose at the time, but has now become a symbolic nod to days gone by.

As a writer who relishes obscure trivia and lore, I’ve long wanted to experience the sheep drive firsthand. So when I caught wind that actor Damian Lewis, a fellow Brit known for Homeland and Billions, would be serving as “Freeman” this year to lead the procession, my interest was doubly piqued.

The Early Morning Gathering

I awoke before dawn and made my way down to the Southwark side of London Bridge, on the south bank of the River Thames. As the September sun slowly lit up the horizon, I joined several dozen other onlookers eagerly awaiting the arrival of the sheep.

Right on schedule at 6 AM, a truck rolled up carrying about 20 docile ewes who were then herded out onto the street. The crowd’s excited murmuring rose to a cheer when Damian Lewis emerged wearing the traditional Freeman of the City robe and hat, accompanied by the Lord Mayor in full regalia.

After some brief remarks about the history behind the custom, the two men took up crooks and began lightly guiding the flock onto the bridge’s sidewalk with the assistance of several liverymen. The sheep moved slowly, stopping often to nibble at scattered hay bales arranged along the path.

Centuries of Tradition

As I snapped photos and videos with my phone, it struck me how incredible it was that I was watching a ritual essentially unchanged since the 13th century. I learned from a fellow observer that the right to drive sheep over London Bridge was historically granted only to Freemen – citizens who had gained the freedom of the City of London, usually by completing an apprenticeship with one of the trade guilds that dominated commerce at the time.

The Lord Mayor has overseen the proceedings since 1607, but the annual event was briefly discontinued from 1865 until 2013. The sheep crossings resumed as part of the “City of London Freeman’s Sheep Drive” that occurs each September, organized by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen livery company.

Damian Lewis Causes a Stir

Academy Award nominee Damian Lewis proved quite popular in the role usually filled by working shepherds and sheep farmers, judging by the crowd’s reaction. As we slowly followed behind the flock, fans continuously stopped the actor for selfies and autographs. Ever gracious, Lewis patiently obliged with a smile while simultaneously minding his duties.

“We used to have working sheep farms in places like Finsbury and Smithfield where livestock was brought for market,” Lewis explained after politely excusing himself from yet another photo request.

“It’s fun to participate in keeping such marvelous traditions alive,” he added. “Especially as a London boy myself, it feels great to take part in something so uniquely part of my hometown’s heritage.”

Bittersweet Reflections

As a longtime London resident, I couldn’t help but feel a touch of melancholy watching this vestige of our bygone rural past. Centuries ago, the landscape now dominated by skyscrapers and congested streets would have been dotted by verdant pastures.

As we neared the end of the bridge, it struck me how few opportunities we urbanites have to connect with farm life. Yet the crowds flocking to witness this quaint country custom evidenced our innate longing for simplicity that modern city existence strips away.

I also pondered the dreadful fate that likely awaited these sheep after their moment in the spotlight. In times past, they would have been promptly sold for meat or wool. Now part of a publicity event, would they return to languish in pens awaiting slaughter?

A fellow spectator allayed my concerns, informing me that the flock hailed from Surrey Hills Family Farm and would head home after their brief sojourn. Comforted, I resumed filming as the sheep stepped off the bridge and onto King William Street amidst much fanfare.

Humorous Hazards

Despite the generally orderly nature of the proceedings, the sheep drive wasn’t without some humorously chaotic moments. A few of the wayward flock broke away from the road to snack on the urban greenery bordering the sidewalk or squeeze through fencelines.

At one point, an exuberant lamb even dashed out into the road, drawing gasps from onlookers before Lewis calmly herded the truant back to the group. And more than once, the sheep decided they had enough walking and simply plopped down in the middle of the bridge for a rest.

But the patient crowd took it all in stride. If anything, the silly unpredictability of the sheep lent the ceremony an air of authenticity and reinforced just how out of the ordinary it was to watch farm animals meandering through London’s financial district.

A Delightful Diversion

All in all, witnessing this eccentric tradition was a true delight and bright spot amidst an otherwise ordinary Tuesday. Beyond the novelty of such a uniquely anachronistic spectacle, I appreciated the opportunity to connect with a custom that has continued unbroken throughout so much of London’s vast history.

The sheep drive across London Bridge serves as a tangible bridge too, reminding us modern city dwellers of a simpler past and our rural roots. Although the demands of urban living have largely erased agrarian life, this eccentric ceremony keeps its memory alive. I look forward to observing this quirky ritual next September and reflecting on the ever-evolving landscape of my hometown. I hope you like reading “Damian Lewis Herds Sheep Across London Bridge in Quirky Medieval Tradition”.