Follow the Herd: A Woolly Tradition Returns to London
Each September, Southwark Bridge transforms into an unlikely runway for one of the City of London’s most enduring traditions: the annual Sheep Drive & Livery Fair, hosted by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen. On Sunday 28 September 2025, Freemen of the City will once again take up their historic right to herd sheep across the Thames, continuing a ritual that harks back to the days when wool was Britain’s most prized commodity.
The sight of sheep trotting across a bridge in the heart of London may raise eyebrows among passers-by, but for centuries it was entirely practical. In medieval times, drovers guided their flocks over London Bridge to reach the city markets. Freemen, the traders of the day, were granted the privilege of crossing toll-free — a small but symbolic recognition of the wool trade’s central role in the nation’s economy. Wool, after all, was England’s “white gold,” so significant that taxes on its sale helped build Old London Bridge itself, said to rest on foundations “paid for by the fleece.”
Although the practice faded with the rise of motorised transport, the Sheep Drive was revived in 2013, when the Woolmen restored the tradition as a charitable celebration. Today, more than a thousand Freemen take part, each receiving a certificate as proof of their flock-herding feat. Adding to the spectacle are the event’s annual celebrity “sheep drivers.” Last year saw Hollywood actor and Freeman of the City Damian Lewis take up the crook, delighting crowds as he led the flock across the bridge. In 2025, the honour passes to farmer and broadcaster Adam Henson, whose knowledge of British farming makes him a fitting figurehead for this heritage event.
At the adjoining Livery Fair, wool is celebrated in all its forms: rare breeds from Spitalfields City Farm, live shearing demonstrations, and stalls offering everything from hand-spun yarns to finely crafted textiles. Artisans and livery companies showcase centuries-old skills alongside contemporary wool innovations, underscoring the fibre’s remarkable versatility — woven, knitted, felted, or tailored, there is truly no substitute for wool.
Beyond the spectacle and craft, the event carries deeper meaning. All proceeds support the Woolmen’s Charity, which funds research into sheep welfare, supports textile education, and champions innovation in wool through the annual Innovation in Wool Awards. The day also contributes to The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, helping to create a fairer and more inclusive London.
Tracing its roots back to 1180, the Worshipful Company of Woolmen has long stood at the intersection of fibre, trade, and civic life. Once regulators of the woolpackers and merchants, their history threads through English life like a warp running beneath the nation’s fabric. From Elizabethan edicts requiring wool caps on Sundays, to the Lord Chancellor’s seat on a wool-stuffed cushion in the House of Lords, wool has been woven into the political, cultural, and economic story of Britain.
The Sheep Drive & Livery Fair keeps that story alive. It reminds us that textiles are not only about cloth, but about community, heritage, and the fibres that shaped the world we live in. For one day each year, Londoners and visitors alike can witness sheep reclaim the city streets, and in doing so, pay tribute to the humble fleece that once “paid for all.”
This year’s event forms part of London Textile Month, making it an unmissable highlight of the capital’s cultural calendar. Entry is free, but you can register your attendance for the Sheep Drive via the Selvedge website.
-
Further Information:
The 2025 Sheep Drive takes place on Sunday 28 September, Southwark Bridge, London.
-
-
Image Credits:
All images courtesy of The Worshipful Company of Woolmen.