"While being a "freeman" originally meant a person who was not the property of a feudal lord, the definition changed over time. In London, it came to mean someone who had been granted the Freedom of the City and was therefore allowed to trade within the Square Mile. "It gave you the right to own things, to make money, to exist effectively in the City of London," says Ms Miller."
""I always think that cities are made and really the freemen of the City of London were the people who made the City." She says these days the Freedom of London is more like a "voluntary citizenship" that gives recipients "a sense of belonging". "You do have access to networks of people who are trying to do things to improve London. It's a great way of connecting with people.""
BBC Radio London presenter Robert Elms will receive the Freedom of the City of London at a Guildhall ceremony. The honour dates back to the 1230s and existed in some form earlier. The freeman originally meant someone not the property of a feudal lord; in London it came to mean a person granted the Freedom and allowed to trade within the Square Mile. The Freedom provided rights to own property, earn money, and exist effectively in the City. The modern Freedom functions as a voluntary citizenship that offers a sense of belonging and access to networks working to improve London. The award is open to any nationality and may recognise concrete contributions to London's cultural life.
Read at www.bbc.com
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