London Is Still Paying Rent to the Queen on a Property Leased in 1211
This sort of thing happens in the US, too, at least in the Northeast corner of it.  The land that my house sits on is owned by the Unitarian Universalist church down the street, and each year I owe them $4 or the equivalent in livestock or firewood.  To date I've always found it easiest to mail them a check but someday if I'm feeling grumpy maybe I'll give them a duckling.