Celebrate the 200-year anniversary of the Peppercorn Ceremony in St George’s tomorrow from 11am in King’s Square.

The event is held every year on the Wednesday closest to St George’s Day (April 23), and features the Freemasons Lodge paying its annual rent of a single peppercorn to the Governor for use of the Old State House.

The tradition began in 1816, after the island’s capital was officially changed to Hamilton.

Until that point, the State House had been the original seat of Government. To prevent it from falling into disrepair, Governor Sir James Cockburn granted use of the building to the Freemasons.

Members of the public are invited to attend this year’s ceremony, which will see Governor George Fergusson and Mayor Quinell Francis in attendance, along with other local leaders and the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

Three-time Mayor of St George’s Henry Hayward told The Royal Gazette that he had attended roughly 40 Peppercorn Ceremonies in his lifetime, having been born and brought up in the parish, and will be there once again this year.

“It’s a significant event of the year in St George’s and makes people aware of the historic

town that we have,” said Mr Hayward, who is also a member of the St George’s Historical Society and the St George’s Foundation.