Although a ceremonial title, one of the more obscure rights granted to freemen of the borough is that they are allowed to herd sheep along Station Road in Port Talbot (it's said that a freeman of the city of London had the right to drive sheep and cattle over London Bridge. These droving rights were exercised on June 17, 2006 when sheep were driven across the Millennium Bridge to mark the start of London Architecture Week!)

Interestingly in London freemen were also said to be allowed to carry an unsheathed sword and if they were drunk and incapable, police could put them in a taxi home instead of imprisoning them - a "right" that if it ever really was exercised has long since disapeared.

On occasions entire regiments can be granted "freedom" and that honour is said to date back to Roman times when armed forces entering cities were usually regarded as an act of war.

The idea was to prevent ambitious military elites staging a coup and this measure was adopted by British cities during the middle ages.

Today, 'martial freedom' is a ceremonial honour, but it remains one of the oldest and highest civic honours because the traditional view was that such a group didn't have to disarm before entering the area's precincts - a sign of the trust placed in them.

The Royal Regiment of Wales was granted the freedom of Neath and the Royal Corps of Transport 223 Welsh Squadron (5) was given a similar honour by Port Talbot.

A little further west dignatories such as Lord Nelson have been granted the freedom of Haverfordwest while Viscount Montgomery was given the freedom of Swansea.

Since 1996 and the formation of Neath Port Talbot as one body, four people have been granted the honour including Michael Sheen in 2008, along with Margaret Thorne - the first woman to be given this local award. Margaret was nominated in recognition of her eminent and lifelong services to the voluntary sector.

In Neath 16 people were declared freeman between 1900 and 1996, and 24 in Port Talbot.

Some of Port Talbot's freemen

Some of Neath's freemen

And you can find out more about Michael Sheen here.