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The tradition of ‘Feed the Rat’ continues at Halford Bridge




FORGET shin-kicking or chasing giant cheese wheels down steep hills, Halford can boast a most strange folk tradition: Feed the Rat.

The origins of the ritual that takes place every year on the 8th of 8th at 8pm at Halford Bridge are of uncertain origin, and the rituals it involves almost seem like something thought up over a few shandies too many down the local…

Feed the Rat event. Photo Emma Sabin/Freedom Photography
Feed the Rat event. Photo Emma Sabin/Freedom Photography

It goes something like this: torch-bearing Vikings lead the way to the bridge where lumps of cheese are thrown into the River Stour below.

This is done to ‘feed the rat’ that lives therein. Presumably the rat in question is some sort of deity and once appeased on cheddary Scooby Snacks then bequeaths good fortune on the villages, ensuring crops flourish and beer overflows tankards, etc.

Feed the Rat event. Photo Emma Sabin/Freedom Photography
Feed the Rat event. Photo Emma Sabin/Freedom Photography

King Hal is involved – apparently named for the village. Despite top investigation work by the Herald, we were unable to ascertain whether King Hal is human royalty or the rat itself.

Interestingly, first mention of a bridge at the site was made in the 13th century, and during the civil war in the mid-1600s it was destroyed by Royalists first then, having been rebuilt, wrecked by Parliamentarians.

The nearby pub, Halford Bridge Inn, dates back to the 16th century.

Feed the Rat event. Photo Emma Sabin/Freedom Photography
Feed the Rat event. Photo Emma Sabin/Freedom Photography

We are in good company in our muddled understanding of the origins of the tradition. According to musician Barney Porter, who supplied the tunes so the rat-feeding party could continue its revelries into the night last Tuesday, even the Horrible Histories team didn’t get the Feed the Rat legend quite right.

“They included it as an anecdote in one of their books recently, but apparently got all the facts confused,” Barney told the Herald.

“I’ve been playing music for Feed the Rat for about ten years, but I’m not sure where the story comes from.

“I was just concerned about getting as many rat references into our set as possible. It’s all good fun.”



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