I heard someone say "once every Preston Guild" in conversation earlier, an expression I had not heard in years. It is a Lancashire expression meaning 'very rarely'.
Preston Guilds take place only once every twenty years. Preston is a town (sorry, city - it gained city status in 2002) in the north-west of England. Preston was granted the right to hold a Guild Merchant in 1179, and this meant that only Guild members could ply their trade in the town. Membership was updated from time to time, and from 1542 it was decided that once every twenty years was sufficient for this administrative task. When Guilds were held the town received an influx of visitors and there was much feasting and merrymaking. In the 19th century the powers of the Guild were removed, but the local people lobbied for the continuation of old traditions and so Preston Guilds became festivals and pageants for all the citizens of Preston, not just the tradespeople.
The Preston Guild is the only such Guild festival still celebrated in the UK. The next Preston Guild is next year, 2012. Here's the website devoted to it.
Comments