The story goes that, back in the 12th century, Lady Mabella made a deathbed request that she should be able to leave a charitable bequest of land to provide flour for the needy locals. Her husband Sir Roger said that she could have all the land that she could walk around while carrying a single burning brand from the fire. He didn’t expect that she would encircle 23 acres before the flame expired but as the lady also cursed anyone who interfered with the annual dole, he didn’t dare to refuse her request.
The one time that the family did not obey her dying request, the monor house began to crumble. Therefore, the family never failed to observe the dole ever again - even during WWII and the period of rationing that followed. Not even the Covid pandemic stopped the dole - the event couldn't take place at the house but flour was distributed privately and under strict distancing and hygiene rules.
Today locals are still entitled to claim a gallon of flour per head from outside Tichborne House on March 25th - the Dole is always on 25th regardless of which day of the week it falls upon.
The flour is blessed by a Priest and distributed from a large wooden bin. It’s a condition of the lease of the house that any tenant must continue the custom.
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