HERE'S a riddle. Which tradition, established more than 800 years ago, is only celebrating its 50th anniversary this year? The answer is the Gild of the Freemen of the City of York.

The earliest register of freemen in York Archives dates from 1272, the first year of the reign of Edward I. This list contains 29 names. One of the most important privileges of being in this exclusive club was the right to trade within the city under the protection of the corporation.

Over the years, this roll of honour has grown. By 1376 more than 60 shops in the city were let to different tradesmen at annual rents from ten shillings to 36 shillings. Many were on Ouse Bridge.

The continuing stronghold that freemen had on city trade was shown by evidence before the Commissioners of Enquiry in 1833 when a witness said: "No person not being free of the city is entitled to sell or put to sale any wares or merchandise or keep any shop or open room for the sale of the same within the city."

Before the Municipal Reform Act was passed in 1835, freemen controlled York politically as well as commercially. Before then, they were the only residents allowed to vote for a Member of Parliament.

Over the centuries there have been ancient gilds and companies representing the major trades of York such as the Cordwainers, Butchers, Merchant Adventurers and Merchant Taylors. Some of these remain to this day and many freemen have been members of these organisations over the years.

However, there had never previously been a separate gild for those freemen who did not fit into these categories. In 1953, this was put right.

"At one time the Freemen of York exerted a commanding influence in commerce, government and the judicature of the city. Nowadays much of that influence has faded into obscurity," reported the Evening Press in September 1953.

"Now, although the Freeman tradition is still upheld, it is little more than a formality. Members are admitted to the Roll and then the honour is too often forgotten.

"For many years, the senior members of the Roll have been disturbed by the lack of interest shown by younger Freemen in civic affairs.

"They believe that younger members should provide Aldermen, Councillors and city officials, as they did centuries ago."

The upshot of this concern was a meeting of members of the roll at the Merchant Taylors Hall in York "to discuss the formation of a new Guild of Freemen".

Around 200 of the 800 membership took part and founded the new guild (it soon resorted to the original spelling of gild, shorn of the 'u' which was an 18th-century addition).

Elected deputy master of the gild, Mr W Piercy said that one of the objects of the organisation was "to form an effective body of opinion to be brought to bear on civic matters and to work actively for the preservation of the past and building of the future".

The meeting elected the Lord Mayor president of the gild during his term of office.

Over the years, field marshals, generals, prime ministers and archbishops have been made honorary freemen of the city, although Winston Churchill did not take up the offer.

In 1952, the Princess Royal became the first woman honorary freeman, followed three years later by Edna Crichton, York's first woman Lord Mayor.

Another ancient role of the Freemen of York is the care of the strays of York. The four strays (Micklegate, stray, Walmgate and Monk) represent the last vestiges of common land still remaining around the city and have long been associated with the ancient 'rights' of Freemen.

Although the actual care and control of some aspects of the strays passed to the council some years ago, there still exists a strays council and pasture masters with close connections to the Gild of Freemen, who keep a watchful eye on any attempts to develop these still open and common lands.

To this end the gild, in conjunction with the City of York Council, have jointly funded a tree planting scheme on both Bootham and Monkgate Strays, to re-establish traditional trees on these ancient open spaces as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. Ten trees are being planted on each stray including ash, larch, oak and Scots pine.

Also this year, the present master of the gild, Peter Meek and his officers are embarking on a year-long programme of events and functions to celebrate their Golden Jubilee.

The first gild court meeting of 2003 was held recently in the State Room at the Mansion House, by kind permission of the Lord Mayor, Coun David Horton, who is also the president of the Gild for his year of office.

In his welcome, Mr Meek declared his pleasure at the close association which the gild enjoys with the City of York - links which have been unbroken for 50 years.

"To have the first citizen of this great city as our president is something which we truly appreciate for the dignity and prestige that your office brings," he said.

Mr Meek then presented the Lord Mayor with a cheque as a contribution to the Lord Mayor's chosen charities this year - SNAPPY and Shopmobility.

The Gild of Freemen's historic traditional home is in the restored 14th century Bedern Hall, hidden away between Goodramgate and Andrewgate. It is here that they hold regular meetings and functions to benefit their membership of almost 500 Freemen, some of whom are dispersed around Britain and, indeed, across the world.

The first event of jubilee year will be a talk on Freemen At The Battle Of Towton by Ashley Healey, secretary of the Towton Battlefield Society. This will describe the epic battle of the War of the Roses, which took place on Palm Sunday 1461, when the forces of York and Lancaster faced each other on the battlefield between Towton and Saxton, just south of Tadcaster - the longest and bloodiest battle fought on English soil.

This lecture will take place at Bedern Hall on Thursday, March 20, and is open to all Gild members and also members of the public.

Tickets are £5 inclusive of a glass of wine, available from Simon Errington on York 430651.

Other jubilee events include a picnic in the gardens of the National Trust property Goddards, in Dringhouses, serenaded by the Calder Valley Barbershop Harmony Group on Saturday, June 21. Tickets will be available from Mr Meek on 702535.

And on Saturday, September 13, the Gild of Freemen will be opening mediaeval Bedern Hall to members and the public.

It is also intended to publish a booklet tracing the origins and the first 50 years of history of the Gild of Freemen of York. This is being compiled by court assistant Jocelyn Appleyard and will be available in the summer.

Updated: 10:22 Monday, March 10, 2003