Cart Marking 2012

A selection of the 47 historic and modern vehicles in the City of London today for the annual Cart Marking ceremony in Guildhall Yard.

Vehicles participating included a horse-drawn fruit and vegetable cart, a mourning carriage, a horse-drawn ambulance, a steam-roller, modern and historic trucks, a bomb disposal van, milk, coal and oil delivery vehicles, tractor units, a refuse collection vehicle and a new London Bus.

The ceremonial celebration is a reminder of the role of Transport in the Square Mile’s history. For centuries the City of London Corporation licensed vehicles in the Square Mile and from 1838 each licensed vehicle was brought to the Guildhall once a year to be "marked" with a letter. Continuing this tradition, once a year, Carmen bring vehicles to be "marked" with a red hot iron on a wooden plate.

Carts and carriers are no longer managed by the City of London Corporation and its head, the elected Lord Mayor; however, the cart marking tradition has been continued by The Worshipful Company of Carmen.

Guildhall Library holds a wealth of published information about traditions and ceremonies in the City of London, transport history and the records of The Worshipful Company of Carmen. Guildhall Library is a public reference library and anyone is welcome to consult our collections.