Lamprey in the Teise

 

In the Middle Ages the Lamprey was a delicacy and a favourite of the royal table. Henry I was said to have died of a “surfeit of Lampreys” and King John fined the city of Gloucester 40 marks for failing to provide him with his annual Christmas present of Lamprey Pie! Dating from before the dinosaurs they survived all that time ..but the Industrial Revolution and pollution meant they largely disappeared in the UK river system. They are an indicator of water quality and a healthy river … therefore we were delighted recently when one of our members spotted one in the Teise and took this video...the Teise is obviously in good fettle for the Trout and Grayling!