The traditional annual St Ives’ Langley Bread distribution takes place each January at St Ives Corn Exchange.   In 2025 approximately 130 grocery bags promoting St Ives Farmers’ Market awaited their distribution by the Mayor of St Ives, Cllr Pasco Hussain, to widows and widowers resident in, and on the electoral roll of, St Ives, or the relatives and friends representing them.  The origins of this cherished, centuries old tradition were explained briefly by the Mayor, Councillor Hussain before the gifting.

In 1656, Robert Langley, a prominent and philanthropic St Ives man, left a bequest in his Will so that 40 Shillings could be distributed each year, on a day in January, to the poor widows and fatherless children of St Ives.   From 1860, parcels of bread were distributed instead of the 40 shillings (£2 in today’s currency) to widowers, as well as to widows.  Since 1990, the parcels have been replaced by a grocery bag containing the bread as well as butter, jam, teabags and sugar. In 2005, biscuits were also added.

Robert Langley also left money in his Will for the bell ringers of the Parish Church to ring a peel of bells each year in January.  Legend has it that he was ever grateful to the town, having been lost in a snowstorm one day while walking across Hemingford Meadow to St Ives, but hearing the bells of the Parish Church, was guided to safety.

The event is organised by the St Ives United Charities Trust who also provide the money for the Bibles at the town’s annual Bible Dicing ceremony that is held in the Parish Church on the first Tuesday of Whitsuntide.