Peppercorn Rent ceremony at The Merchant's House

Last night, Thursday 24 April the annual ‘Peppercorn Rent’ ceremony between The Merchant’s House and Marlborough Town Council took place. As rent for the House, Marlborough Town Council is given a bag of peppercorns and £1. Rent for the following year.

The Merchant’s House is one of Marlborough’s iconic links to history. Dating back to mid-seventeenth century entering the House is the opportunity for any visitor to engage with that period of nearly half a millenium ago. The Trust – set up to run, manage but importantly restore The Merchant’s House – are the custodians of the House. But it is still – ultimately – the Town Council (and hence residents of Marlborough) who are freeholders. We are all the owners of The Merchant’s House, it is part of our heritage and part of Marlborough.

One major – primary? – aspect of The Trust’s role is to effect restoration. Raise the funding required and manage all the works. To bring the House back to it’s former glory whilst ensuring all is safe, in good condition and compliant with every building regulations. In one sense it’s a role of conflict as back in the 1600s ‘safety’ wasn’t high on the builder’s priority list, probably not on anyone’s list either but today it is juggling all the contemporary and sustainable requirements with the historic qualities that were the House when it was built, in the period immediately following the great Fire of Marlborough.

So every year, the ‘Peppercorn Rent’ ceremony. We understand, from a Merchant’s House spokesperson that they have invested significantly in the future regarding payment of rent: they have ensured a large enough bag of peppercorns to pay the rent many years into the future. The Merchant’s House is a place of magnetic attraction for visitors, many from far afield in the UK and also the rest of the world, but importantly it’s here for Marlborough and the residents who live here. Us.