In March 1860 a great many people received through the post an official-looking card inviting them to the Tower of London to see the annual washing of the white lions on Sunday 1 April. Cabs rattled round Tower Hill all that morning looking for the White Gate, which did not exist. Chambers noted that no one had traced how long April fooling had gone on in England.
Washing the lions
1 April · Tower of London, London
No longer kept
Admit the Bearer and Friend to view the Annual Ceremony of Washing the White Lions
From Chambers's Book of Days, vol. 1, p. 462. Read the original
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