Nov 25th, 2016: England's Other Royalty

England's other royalty is the Pearly tribe.

Going back more than 150 years to 19th century Victorian London, it all started with an orphan street sweeper and rat catcher
named Henry Croft, who was taken under the wing of the Costmongers of Spitalfields market; a proud breed of apple sellers in
the East end. Croft learned from their way of life and their role in the community as caretakers of the poor. They were also
known for their unique smoked pearl buttons sewed onto the seems of their tattered clothes in an attempt to imitate the pearly
fashions of the wealthy.

As the story goes, the impressionable Henry, keen to emulate his local heroes, was wondering down the mud banks of the
Thames when he came across the shipwrecked cargo of a sunken Japanese boat and thousands of imported pearl buttons.
Croft covered his entire worn out dress suit and top hat with 60,000 pearl buttons, sewing them in artful patterns that spelled
out Robin Hood-esque slogans like, “All for charity and pity the poor”.

By 1911 an organized Pearly society was formed and every borough in the city had its own Pearly King and Queen representatives.
The organized charitable tradition of working class culture in London continues to this day…

As always it starts with people helping people, even Niggers, fags, lezzzies, and spics.
C'mon folks they're all people, they all deserve help when they need it.
A lot more picture and details on the Perlies.

So nobody cares about the Pearlies.

xoxoxoBruce;974536 wrote:

So nobody cares about the Pearlies.

Do they make motorcycle vests?

tarheel

Looks like a fine set of pearly whites.

Heavens! I didn't know that Pearly Kings and Queens were still going.
I thought that the tradition had died out long ago.

That reminds me of a childhood misunderstanding.
There's a borough on the fringes of south London called Purley.
I suppose it could be described as 'genteel suburbia' and I could never understand why it had it's own royalty. :facepalm:

Slight correction to the article - it's 'costermongers', or costers.

Maybe their Trumpnesses could adopt this look?

DanaC;974696 wrote:

Slight correction to the article - it's 'costermongers', or costers.

It's also seams, not seems, and wandering, not wondering.

Oh picky picky picky. you're overlooking the spirit of the Pearlies. ya fascists. :p:

I love the Pearlies, I wish there were more photos up close. There's just not really anything to add. They were the OG badasses. Really, what more can you add to the Pearlies?

And I like Messy Nessy even if she can't spell. It's a cool site. I like the tiny stuff too.