St Ives in Cambridgeshire |
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The origin of the Mace can be traced back hundreds, if not thousands, of years to when the wooden club was a weapon of war, and an effective one at that. The club was shaped at one end like the nut of the spice known as mace, from where is gets its name. In later times the wooden club was reinforced with iron rings and spikes and like all weapons the expensive ones became more items of art than war.
As the Mace as a weapon was replaced by the sword, the expensive versions were taken up by royalty as a symbol of power and authority. Today the Mace is still a symbol of the judicial authority of the crown and is carried before the council by the Sergeant-at-Mace or Mace Bearer in recognition of that authority.
The Mace borne on the shoulder of the Mace Bearer, Mr John Smoothy
Wherever the Town Council of St Ives gathers, or moves, on official business then the Mace leads the way even taking "pride of place" in front of the head table at the Mayor's Charity Ball
The Mace in front of the 2002 Mayor, Cllr Douglas Dew, pictured here with his partner Julie
In 1953 the council of the then Borough of St Ives decided to instruct the London Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company to design and build a Mace and set aside the sum of £150 for that purpose. However the Town Clerk, George Day, informed the council that a better one could be obtained for around £250. Being a "man of means", George asked the council to buy the more expensive one and deduct the difference from his salary over the following year. Eventually the Mace cost £300 and George paid the excess out of his own pocket. What a guy?
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This website is part of the British Towns Network |
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Page last updated 24/07/08 Copyright 2001-2008© JevStar.Com (JevStar™) |
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