Nottinghamshire Local History Council Collection (1960, F.M.Benton)
Source:
Mrs. Florence Mary Benton (Auth.)
Memories of a Villager [Plough Monday at Ruddington, Notts.]
Nottinghamshire Local History Council Collection,
Written 25th Mar.1960, Ref.DD/121/1/52, 10pp.,map
Entry to an essay competition on old village life at Ruddington, Notts. It
includes the following (p.5);
"Once a year they had Plough Monday - They dressed in outlandish costumes -
blackened their faces & came round hauling a plough. In the 'squares,' 'yards'
and 'rows' they danced tumbled & sang. Their last song before handing round
their hats was the following nonsensical rhyme.
'Plough Monday Night,
The stars are bright,
3 Little Angels are dressed in white.
Can you eat a biscuit ?
Can you smoke a pipe ?
Can you go a'courting at 10 at night,
I've a hole in my stocking,
I've a hole in my shoe.
Please can you spare us a copper or two.
If you can't spare a 1d - a 1/2d will do.
And if you can't spare a 1/2d. God help you.
They used to threaten to plough up the 'causeway' if the hat should be returned
empty."
Index Terms:
| Locations: |
Ruddington, Notts. (SK5733)
|
| Years: |
Col. 1960
|
| Subjects: |
Plough Monday; Plough Trailing; Song; Text Fragment; Malicious Ploughing; Essay
|
| People: |
Nottinghamshire Local History Council (Col.)
|
| Archives: |
TDRG Archive, Ref. TD00421
|
Last Updated Mar 1992 by Peter Millington.
|
