Cart Marking

Transport through the ages.

Entrance is free. This is the second largestfree event in the city of Londonafter The Lord Mayor’s Show. You will see a selection of some of the most interesting and finest vehicles throughoutthe ages.The ceremony datesback over 500 years withvehicles rangingfrom handcarts, horse and carts, steam engines, steam powered vehicles, Military vehicles, multicycles, historic and vintage vehicles, specialist vehicles new and old, and even thelatest electric and fusion powered vehicles. As the vehicles pass through the guildhall archcommentators tell the history of each vehiclethen once the vehicle is in position at the far end of the yard the Lord Mayor of London assisted by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen brand the vehicle with a hot branding iron, which is known as “Cart Marking”.Each vehicle is marked with a letter or symbolwhichdepictsthat it is fit to ply for trade or hirefor the forthcoming year.The Lord Mayor and the Master Carman with theCourt of Assistantsare dressed in their robesfor the ceremony.Just as it was in 1835 the fee for having your vehicle marked is “five shillings”.The eventusually lasts for almost two hours and programmes showing all entries maybe purchased on the day.