William of Evesham who died in 1351, bought a smithy and some land in the Strand, London (where now stands Australia House), from Thomas of Waltham Cross, and Joan his wife, for which he paid an annual quit rent to the Crown of six horse shoes and the appropriate nails. The interesting point is that a gentleman representing the City Fathers of London goes annually to the Exchequer with six horse shoes and nails just as William of Evesham used to in the 14th century, and as his predecessors at the smithy had done since 1235. This is in a direct line in the unbroken chain with William of Evesham. Michaelmas 1935 was the 700th anniversary of the payment.
