A traditional ceremony – the likes of which has not been seen in Norfolk in decades – saw a crop field blessed by royalty last weekend.
Local woman Jennifer Mead took on the role of Barley Queen as she was tasked with calling upon the four elements of nature to bless a field of barley beside All Saints’ Church in Alburgh on April 27.
The unusual act – an ancient East Anglian folk tradition – was revived by Grain Brewery, a village business, as it embarks on growing and malting its first crop of barley.
Vicar the Rev Christopher Hutton performed a Christian blessing, before celebratory drinks were enjoyed back at the brewery.
Brewery owner Phil Halls said: “We revived the blessing to have a bit of fun, but also to celebrate the farming community and the fact that, later this year, we will malt our own barley to produce a born-in-Alburgh, brewed-in-Alburgh beer.
According to historian Walter Rye, the Blessing of the Barley Queen took place after the spring equinox in medieval times.
