On Wed, Dec 13, 2017 at 6:59 AM, Mike Rock wrote:

> http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20171212-a-strange-life-on-l
> ondons-river-thames
>
> On BBC this morning I found this about Eel Pie Island in the Thames.
> If you follow the link further they talk of:  " Moses Glover's map of 1635
> notes a plot of land as "hath bin A Boulding Alley".
>
> Yep, an eel pie.......  Shivers.......
>

Eel pie (well, technically lamprey pie) was in the news a fair amount in
2012 for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Eel pie has been a delicacy eaten by
the English monarchy for quite some time (Henry I died in 1135 from eating
too many lamprey pies, at least according to one account) and the city of
Gloucester has a long history of giving lamprey pies to the monarch to
celebrate special occasions.  In 2012 the lampreys had to come from Canada
(which was happy to be rid of these invasive creatures) because they are
endangered in the UK.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/
fishing/related-articles/the-fisheries-and-angling-team/
royal-fish-and-christmas-day-lamprey-pies

Speaking of strange gifts to the queen, the city of London has been paying
annual rent to the queen on property leased in 1211. And now for the old
tools content: the annual rent paid is a billhook, an axe, six oversized
horseshoes, and 61 nails.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/london-is-still-
paying-rent-to-the-queen-on-a-property-leased-in-1211

Brian
who would happily eat eel pie (or any pie, for that matter)