April Fool's Day, 1860
Viewing the Lions
Late in March 1860 numerous people throughout London received the following invitation:
"Tower of London—Admit Bearer and Friend to view annual ceremony of Washing the White Lions on Sunday, April 1, 1860. Admittance only at White Gate. It is particularly requested that no gratuities be given to wardens or attendants."
By twelve o'clock on April 1st a large crowd had gathered outside the tower. However, since no lions had been kept in the tower for centuries, the people went home disappointed. This prank had a very long pedigree. An instance of it was recorded from as far back as
1698. It had also been regularly perpetrated (on a smaller scale) upon unsuspecting out-of-towners.
Text copyright © 2002 Alex Boese