Caldecott (SP8693), Rutland

J.B. (1886)

J. B. (Auth.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Nottingham Guardian, 13th Jan.1886, No.9344, p.3 g

Listing of various superstitions and customs including:

"Plough boys, plough bullocks or plough witches (for by all these names they are known), grotesquely dressed, blowing horns and drawing ploughs, perambulate on the first Monday in the new year (Plough Monday), and collect money for a feast. Mummers (now nearly extinct) perform a play in which is introduced the King of Egypt's daughter. Morrice dances are now almost a thing of the past."

Also mentioned are various omens of bad luck or future events, "shittles" (plum buns) made on Saint Valentine's Day in east Leics., Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, women begging corn from farms on Saint Thomas's Day, customs relating to death, on the 28th May - King Charles' Day - wearing oak leaves, and at Narborough, placing oak boughs over doors. Further calendar customs: Kattern cakes baked at Caldecott on Saint Catherine's Day, May garlands and songs taken from house to house, wakes, and wrestling matches at Kibworth.

J.B. (1898)

J. B. (Auth.)
*LOCAL NOTES AND QUERIES: LEICESTERSHIRE SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS
*Nottinghamshire Guardian, 12th Aug.1898

Listing of various superstitions and customs including:

"Plough boys, plough bullocks or plough witches (for by all these names they are known), grotesquely dressed, blowing horns and drawing ploughs, perambulate on the first Monday in the new year (Plough Monday), and collect money for a feast. Mummers (now nearly extinct) perform a play in which is introduced the King of Egypt's daughter. Morrice dances are now almost a thing of the past."

Also mentioned are various omens of bad luck or future events, "shittles" (plum buns) made on Saint Valentine's Day in east Leics., Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, women begging corn from farms on Saint Thomas's Day, customs relating to death, on the 28th May - King Charles' Day - wearing oak leaves, and at Narborough, placing oak boughs over doors. Further calendar customs: Kattern cakes baked at Caldecott on Saint Catherine's Day, May garlands and songs taken from house to house, wakes, and wrestling matches at Kibworth.

Article with identical text to J.B. (1886)

R.Palmer (1985)

Roy Palmer (Auth.)
The Folklore of Leicestershire and Rutland
Wymondham: Sycamore Press Ltd., 1985, 0-905837-22-3, 288pp.

*This book contains an extensive survey of Plough Monday customs in Leicestershire and Rutland (pp.86-90). Places mentioned include Glenfield, Fleckney, Arnesby, Ridlington, Woodhouse Eaves, Claybrooke, Bagworth, Willoughby Waterless, Grimston, Melton, Belgrave, Elmesthorpe, Broughton Astley, Markfield, Kings Norton, Leicester, and Ab Kettleby, Leics., and Greetham, Bisbrooke, Ryhall, Preston, and Seaton, Rutland.

The text of a Ploughboy Night play from Sproxton, Leics., is given on pp.157-164 together with musical scores. This was performed until the 1890s, and the characters were; Fool/Tommy, Recruiting Sergeant, Farmer's Man, Lady, Beelzebub/Bellzie, and Doctor. Other places mentioned as having had plays are; Oakham & Clipsham, Rutland, and Market Bosworth & Ratby, Leics.

Christmas Mummers plays are described on pp.153-157, including the text of a play from Caldecott, Rutland, also including musical scores. This "Mummiers' Play" was performed about 1905, and included the characters; Open Your Door, Guier, King George, Slasher, Doctor, Belzebub and the Miser.

Other Christmas plays are mentioned from Leicester, Lutterworth, Kibworth, Belgrave, Bosworth, Burbage, Gilmorton, Glaston, Ibstock, Knossington, & North Kilworth, Leics., and Edith Weston, Rutland

A photograph show a Plough Sunday church service at Great Easton, Leics., which took place in 1978.

* indicates data that not yet been validated against the original source and/or has yet to be completely indexed.