Toronto Star

Nails to the Queen (and other odd rents)

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Last month, continuing an 800-year tradition, the city of London paid Queen Elizabeth rent owed on two pieces of property — transactio­ns so old that the exact locations of the properties are unclear. The payments, called “Quit Rents,” once had meaning, but are now ceremonial.

1

Billhook — a knife-like tool (photo) — and an axe remitted for use of land in Shropshire

1211

Year the Shropshire land rental began

61

Nails given to the Queen’s representa­tive as rent for land near what is now the Royal Courts of Justice

6

Oversized horseshoes that are also paid, in a transactio­n that dates to 1235

 ?? PETER MACDIARMID/GETTY IMAGES ??
PETER MACDIARMID/GETTY IMAGES

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