The ceremony of Swan Upping takes place during the third week of July every year. Swan Upping is the annual census of swans on the River Thames.
Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century, when The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans, which were considered an important food source for banquets and feasts (yes, the Royals knew how to throw a dinner party).
The Crown retains the right of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen mainly exercises this right on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This ownership is shared with the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies, who were granted rights of ownership back in the fifteenth century. Today, the swans are still counted but thankfully no longer eaten (phew!).
The Queen’s Swan Marker and the accompanying Swan Uppers of the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies use six traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey upstream to Abingdon. By tradition, scarlet uniforms are worn by The Queen’s Swan Marker and Swan Uppers, and each boat flies the appropriate flag.
It has always been the duty of the Sovereign’s Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained. The cygnets are weighed and measured to obtain estimates of growth rates. The birds are examined for any sign of injury, commonly caused by fishing hooks and lines.
The Swan Uppers and Swan Markers teach local children about Mute Swans and their natural habitat, as well as the history of Swan Upping and the Royal connection to swans. But anyone can watch the Swan Upping by heading along to one of the following places:
Monday 15th July 2019
Sunbury Lock Cut 9am (departure point)
Shepperton Lock 10.15am
Penton Hook Lock 12.30pm
Romney Lock 5.30pm
Tuesday 16th July 2019
Eton Bridge 8.30am (departure point)
Boveney Lock 9.15am
Boulters Lock 12.30pm
Cookham Bridge 1.30pm
Marlow Lock 5.30pm
Wednesday 17th July 2019
Marlow Bridge 9am (departure point)
Hurley Lock 10.30am
Hambleden Lock 12pm
Henley Town 1.15pm
Marsh Lock 3.30pm
Shiplake Lock 5pm
Sonning Bridge 6pm
Thursday 18th July 2019
Sonning-on-Thames 9am (departure point)
Caversham Lock 10.15am
Mapledurham Lock 12pm
Goring Lock 5pm
Moulsford 6pm
Friday 19th July 2019
Moulsford 9am (departure point)
Benson Lock 10am
Clifton Hampden Bridge 1pm
Culham Lock 4.15pm
Abingdon Bridge 5pm
When: 15th – 19th July 2019 (see above)
Where: Along the River Thames
£: Free to watch
More info: www.royalswan.co.uk and www.royal.uk/swans
Leave a comment