Preston’s pace eggs and how they led to egg rolling

How do you like your eggs in the morning…Poached, fried, wrapped in onion skins and boiled? Well that’s how we used to have eggs at Easter. Instead of sweet confectionaries we would have ‘pace eggs’, but what are pace eggs and how did they contribute to the beginning of Preston’s egg rolling?

Why do we decorate eggs in the first place?

The association of eggs with Easter is often explained by their symbolism of new life, birth, and hope. However, another reason dates back to the middle ages when, during Lent, animal products, including meat, milk, and eggs, were forbidden to reflect the self-discipline of Jesus Christ’s 40-day fast. This meant people consumed only what they needed rather than indulging in more luxurious items. There was also a practical reason for this, hens continued laying eggs, creating a surplus that, by Easter, provided an accessible and protein-rich food which could be enjoyed by those who may have been unable to afford meat.

What are pace eggs?

Pace-eggs are a precursor to Easter eggs with the phrase ‘pace’ coming from ‘pasch’ meaning ‘passover’. These eggs would be boiled in onion skins for around 15 minutes with the result being an egg which looks as though it has been decorated with mottled gold. Some eggs would be inscribed or decorated with wax prior to being boiled in order to add additional detail or a message. The earliest recorded reference to ‘pace eggs’ is in 1290 under Edward I when a household account said they would pay ‘one shilling and a six pence for the decoration and distribution of 450 pace-eggs’!

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My attempt at Pace eggs. Pic: Blog Preston

What do pace-eggs have to do with Preston?

That is a cracking question! (Sorry I couldn’t help myself). As time went on, pace eggs became associated with ‘pace eggers’. These groups first appeared around Lancashire and Yorkshire, they would tour local towns and cities performing a play. These were similar in style to modern day pantomimes, with a hero (normally St George), a villain who was eventually defeated and comics/fools who would narrate the play.

The actors, sometimes children, would go door to door prior to their performance to inform them of the location and time as well as asking for a donation of pace eggs before or after the play. The eggs were a valued contribution as the actors could enjoy them together or with their families on Easter Sunday, however, they would also accept money and beer! Whilst the popularity of pace egging has dwindled some parts of Lancashire still see displays most recently in Bury!

An egg by another other name

For the few of you who may not be familiar with Preston’s egg rolling event, this famed tradition began in 1867. It consists of rolling your Easter egg down the large hill in Avenham Park and seeing whose goes the furthest.

Without pace eggs, there may never have been egg rolling in Preston. Although pace eggs were previously used as gifts or decoration before Easter Sunday, as living standards improved in the nineteenth century and eggs were no longer viewed as an essential commodity Preston locals decided to have some fun with them.

Although we now race chocolate eggs down Avenham Park, the first recorded instance of Preston’s egg rolling event states that pace eggs were used. Locals would gather to show off their designs and chat, then race their eggs down the hill and see whose egg would go the furthest without breaking. By this time the eggs were in various colours including pink, from beetroot, or green, from spinach! Churches would also contribute to the festivities by hosting tea parties and entertainment.

Egg rolling at Avenham Park in 1963. Pic: Blog Preston

What are they like to make?

In the spirit of Easter I decided to have a go at creating traditional pace eggs. I peeled red and white onions, wrapped the eggs in the skins, wrapped them tightly in foil and boiled them for 15 minutes.

Watch Beth’s attempt a making pace eggs below or watch on our YouTube channel

Wrapping the eggs in the skins was a little fiddly and although the red skins gave the eggs a lovely colour. I would boil them for longer if I made them again as the white onion skin did not leave as much of a golden hue as I had hoped and looked more green/brown. I don’t think I will be showing these off at Avenham Park anytime soon!

So from humble, onion-dyed pace eggs to chocolate treats racing down Avenham Park, Preston’s Easter traditions are a reminder that even the simplest customs can roll into something much bigger.

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