Hoghton Tower Sir Loin Claim

Hoghton Tower make 'Sir Loin' claim

It was King James I who, at a banquet held at Hoghton Tower in his honour, famously knighted a loin of beef ‘Sir Loin’.

Well that is what Hoghton Tower would have you believe is true.

Sadly for Hoghton Tower it's another myth.

A number of legends claim its name came from it being 'knighted' by a monarch, although it is variously ascribed to Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and James I.

The word Sirloin is however most likely to have come from the French word 'surloynge' - which is made up of 'sur', meaning 'over' or 'above', and 'loynge' meaning 'loin'.

What is true, but omitted from the Hoghton Tower website, is the fact that the head of the de Hoghton family, Richard, spent a year in the Fleet Prison to pay off his debts caused by the banquet.

Doesn't sound like King James I was overly impressed by the banquet meal at Hoghton Tower after all.