Nottinghamshire Local History Council Collection (1960, F.E.Ghent & J.W.Ghent)


Source:

F. E. Ghent (Auth.); J. W. Ghent (Auth.)
"Memories of a Villager": BALDERTON [Plough Monday]
Nottinghamshire Local History Council Collection, Written 18th Mar.1960, Ref.DD/121/1/5, 5pp.

Entry to an essay competition on old village life at Balderton, Notts. Page 1 gives the following;

"Plough Monday - Beyond the brief references from the Wardens Accounts - 1814-15 relative to the ringers beer (The Plough Boys were expected to attend service before proceeding to re-enact their curious play to the principle houses in the vicinity.) information regarding this old custom is somewhat vague. The latter appears to have been an Elizabethan travesty, with other characters of a mediaeval play concerning St. George and the Dragon originally introduced many centuries ago by the priests after Divine Service. Although bell ringing ceased in 1816, this custom remained until the close of the 19th century."

The "Fritters Bell" was rung at 11 a.m. on Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Day, until 1890 or 1892, to signal a half day school holiday. Mention is also made of Goodying on St. Thomas' Day, "Dole" Sundays and Cobblers' Monday - the first Monday in March.

Main variant

Scan/Image

Thumbnail of scanned source page

Index Terms:

Locations: Balderton, Notts. (SK8151)
Years: Col. 1960; Perf. 1814 to 1815; Ceased 1816; Ceased c. 1900; Ceased 1890 or 1892
Subjects: Essay; Warden's Accounts; Ringers Beer; Plough Boys; Play; Fritters Bell; St. George and the Dragon; Bell Ringing; Shrove Tuesday; Pancake Day; Goodying; St. Thomas' Day; Dole Sunday; Cobblers' Monday
People: Nottinghamshire Local History Council (Col.); Women's Institute (Auth.)
Archives: TDRG Archive, Ref. TD00403

Last Updated Mar 1992 by Peter Millington.