The Tichborne Dole 1954

Lady Antonia Tichborne (left) photographs the scene as her husband, Sir Anthony Tichborne, and three daughters, Anne, 16; Miranda, 12 and Denise, 6; make a free distribution of flour, which is the basis of the "Tichborne Dole" According to legend Lady Mabel de Tichborne requested on her deathbed that the value of part of the Tichborne estate should be given annually to the poor. Her Husband, Sir Roger de Tichborne, was reluctant to do so and promised to give only as much as the value of the land she could encompass unaided and carrying a flaming torch. Although near to death, Lady de Tichborne managed to crawl around an area of 23 acres (still known today as 'The Crawls') and charged her husband to keep his promise, which he duly did. Between 1994 and 1835 the ceremony was stopped by the local magistrates because they said it was abused by gypsies and vagabonds, but after that it became an annual custom.