Why do we still have Freemen when they no longer have a job? Well, in a way they do. Some 40 towns have Freemen and in many ways they have certain rights protected by law and some are fortunate enough to retain control of what might have been described as prime land. For our part all we are left with is Pasturage rights in which pre 1835 Burgesses had been granted by Royal Charter. This entitles us, despite several legal challenges, to graze our livestock on the Common lands of out town. In Shrewsbury, the Quarry and Kingsland are areas where we could exercise our rights but unfortunately we are only entitled to the pasture not the land, and none of us, to my knowledge, have livestock.

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Where are we today? We estimate that there are in excess of 300 sworn Hereditary Freemen, not all of which live in Shrewsbury. Some 130 are members of our Gild, which incidentally was formed in 1901, and these would be entitled to wear a gown, which has the Gild badge and the badge inscription reads 'Seal of the Free Burgesses of the Town of Shrewsbury instituted in the year 1425.'

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So far, there has been no mention of ladies. However in 2009 an Act of Parliament called 'The Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act' enabled women to become Sworn Freemen. A significant number of ladies have been  sworn and for the first time a Lady Freeman, Angela Robinson, is serving on our Gild Court. From April 2016, Angela became the first ever lady to be Chair of the Gild Court.

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We are fortunate here in Shrewsbury to have an excellent relationship with our Town Council, as we did with the old Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. Successive Mayors, together with the officials of the Town Council, welcome the involvement of the Freemen in their Civic Ceremonies and Parades. We have also re-established our Hereditary position as the Mayor's guardians, escorting him or her armed with our Ceremonial Halberds.

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Written by Lionel Morris.

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