Newark (SK7953), Nottinghamshire

[Unidentified Press Cutting] (no date)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
[Plough Sunday service at Newark, Notts.]
*[Unidentified Press Cutting]

Photo captioned; "Members of Young Farmers' Clubs carried a plough into Newark Parish Church yesterday for the Plough Sunday service..." The caption goes on to list the civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries involved, as well as the Y.F.C. members who carried the plough.

This cutting is probably post World War Two and may come from a Nottingham paper.

L.Jewitt (1853)

Llewellynn Jewitt (Auth.)
ON ANCIENT CUSTOMS AND SPORTS OF THE COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM
*Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 1853, Vol.8, pp.229-240

A rambling general summary of customs in Notts. It followed two similar papers concerning Cheshire and Derbyshire, and a certain amount of extrapolation from these counties is evident.

Among the customs covered are; drawing lots for Valentines near Mansfield, the blessing of St. Ann's Well, Nottingham on Easter Monday and of another well at Newark, a May-pole at Hucknall Folkard [presumably meant to be Hucknall Torkard], divination on All Hallows at Lenton, the perambulation of crib called a Wassail Cup at Christmas, and Groaning Cakes & Cheeses - a birth custom.

He quotes Deering's description of the Midsummer's Eve watch at Nottingham.

The description of Christmas says "... the mummers, or guisors, pass from house to house, and still perform their play of St. George..."

Also; "On Plough Monday, as well as during the Christmas holidays, the plough bullocks are still to be seen in various parts of the country. This extremely picturesque and popular custom, - with its plough, drawn by farmer's men, gaily dressed in ribbands, its drivers, with their long wands and bladders, its sword-dancers, its fool and its celebrated Bessy, and hobby-horse, - I have described in my Derbyshire paper; it will therefore be sufficient to say, that amongst other places the neighbourhoods of Newstead, Mansfield, and Southwell, are still famous for its observance, and that it has been well described by Washington Irving in his Newstead Abbey."

Newark Advertiser (1870)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
THE TAR BARREL NUISANCE
Newark Advertiser, 9th Nov.1870, No.618, p.4b

Source states: "On the evening of the 1st November the usual practice of kicking lighted tar barrels through the streets was commenced in various parts of the town in celebration of the municipal elections. Mr. Supt. Liddell and his men had an unpleasant time of it, but they kept their temper admirably, considering the great provocation they received in various parts of the town. They seized six tar barrels, and in several instances the mob resorted to the cowardly and dangerous practice of throwing stones at the officers. One policeman took a barrel from a lot of valiant fellows near the gaol, and was afterwards pelted with mud. P.c. Wragg was severely struck by a stone, and another officer was also hurt. Great credit is due to the force for the way in which they acted. It seems that the repeated notices which have been given are insufficient as a caution, but probably a more effectual course would be for the magistrates to send one or two of the ringleaders to prison without the option of paying a fine, as they have full power to do."

C.Brown (1891)

Cornelius Brown (Auth.)
A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
London: Elliot Stock, 1891, pp.265-280

The chapter on "Legend, tradition and anecdote" lists the following contents;

"Robin Hood and his Band - Ballads of the Period - The Gothamites - The King and the Miller of Mansfield - Ancient Instruments of Torture - The Plough Bullocks - 'Riding the Stang' - The Fair Maid of Clifton - St. Catherine's Well at Newark - Nan Scott's Chamber at Holme - Dick Turpin and his Accomplice - The Poets of the Newark Sieges - Hercules Clay and his Dream."

The piece on Plough Monday, Plough Bullocks says; "The writer has a distinct recollection of a party of them visiting his father's house at night adorned with paint and feathers, and performing a play. [This would be Lowdham, Notts.] He then refers to a play given by W.Hone (1837), but gives the cast as; [an Introducer], Plough Bullock, Turkish Knight, St. George, Doctor, Old Squire, Hub Bub, and the Box Holder.

This account has been much quoted by later authors, sometimes giving the erroneous impression that the play described came from Notts.

Nottinghamshire Guardian (1899)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
LOCAL NOTES AND QUERIES No.658: NOTES: OLD NEWARK CUSTOMS
*Nottinghamshire Guardian, 14th Jul.1899

Reminiscences from "Mr Hindley of Bourne who is an old resident of the Notts Maltopolis." The article referring to many different local customs, including street vendors' cries, Penny Loaf Day a dole bequeathed by Hercules Clay during which boys would smudge people's faces with red ochre, raffling for oranges, and Guy Fawkes' Day, when there was a bonfire in Newark market place. Also:

"There were also annual events, such as Plough Monday when some half-dozen farm servants came in, running about and peering into people's doors, rattling a small tin, and collecting money, perhaps for the fun of it, or to provide a convivial. One was dressed as a clown and another wore a woman's gown and bonnet. They were helped by some, while with many folks they were more free than welcome."

P.H. (1932)

P. H. (Auth.)
*LOCAL NOTES AND QUERIES: "Plough Boys" at Newark [and Caunton, Notts.]
*Nottinghamshire Guardian, 2nd Apr.1932

*Cites S.R.Hole's (1901) account of Plough Monday at Caunton, Notts.

D.P.Blatherwick (1936)

Douglas P. Blatherwick (Auth.)
THE HISTORY OF NEWARK: Curios, Legends and Customs
Newark Herald, 12th Sep.1936, No.5158, p.2b

This article covers several folklore items, including the legend of Sir Guy Saucimer and Sir Everard Bevercotes competing for the hand of Margaret, daughter of Alan de Caldwell, and the founding of St. Catherine's Well by Sir Guy. The origin is given of the Gopher Bells, rung on the Sundays before Christmas, and mention made of the Pancake Bell still rung on Shrove Tuesday. There is also a long description of the Penny Loaf Day dole, which had ceased in 1934.

Nottinghamshire Guardian (1939a)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
The End Of Plough Mondays
*Nottinghamshire Guardian, 7th Jan.1939

A general description of Plough Monday, with quotations on the disrepute of the custom through malicious ploughing, from W. Howitt (1834). S.R.Hole (1901) and Chaworth-Musters (1890) are also cited. Mentions "guisers", and the characters Robin Hood and Maid Marion.

Places in Notts., listed as having seen the custom within living memory are; Newark, Mansfield, Southwell, Bulwell, Radford, Wiverton, Cropwell, and Tithby (1890), Caunton (1900), and East Markham.

Nottingham Journal (1949b)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
BISHOP BLESSES PLOUGH: Nutrition as Aid to Peace [Newark, Notts.]
Nottingham Journal, 10th Jan.1949, No.38367, p.6 g

Report on Plough Sunday service at Newark Parish Church. The plough was blessed by the Bishop of Southwell who said the service was being reintroduced for the first time for several hundreds of years.

Nottinghamshire Guardian (1949)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
*[Plough Sunday plough blessing at Newark, Notts.]
*Nottinghamshire Guardian, 15th Jan.1949

An account of the 1949 Plough Sunday plough blessing ceremony at Newark, Notts. There is a list of the civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries present and brief details of the order of service. The plough was carried into the church by members of Flintham and Collingham Young Farmers' Clubs.

Nottingham Guardian (1950)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
*BLESSING THE PLOUGH [at Newark, Notts.]
*Nottingham Guardian, 9th Jan. 1950

*Report of the plough blessing service on Plough Sunday at Newark, Notts.

Identification of newspaper uncertain. The copy in Notts. County Library is pasted on sheet headed "Guardian". This could be either the daily Nottingham Guardian, or the weekly Nottinghamshire Guardian.

Nottingham Journal (1951b)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Plough was blessed by Bishop at Newark
Nottingham Journal, 8th Jan.1951, No.38985, p.5e

Description of Plough Sunday service at Newark Parish Church. Plough was blessed by the Bishop of Southwell.

Newark Advertiser (1951a)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
When Farm Folk Danced And Drank Good Ale [Plough Monday customs]
Newark Advertiser, 10th Jan.1951, Vol.98, No.4970, p.2c-e

Inspired by the Plough Sunday plough blessing at Newark Parish Church, this article describes Plough Monday customs and beliefs from unnamed published sources. They include plough trailing, the Tollerton Plough Monday mummers' play, claiming a "Cockerel in the pot" for Shrove-tide, plough lights, and Goose-Dancing house visiting in the Scilley Islands [sic].

Newark Advertiser (1951b)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
PLOUGH SUNDAY A REMINDER OF WORK'S DIGNITY [Newark]
Newark Advertiser, 10th Jan.1951, Vol.98, No.4970, p.12f-g

Report of the Plough Sunday service at Newark Parish Church, Notts. There was a civic procession from the Town Hall to the church, with a plough carried by members of Young Farmers' Clubs. The plough was blessed by the Bishop of Southwell. The sermon, by the Vicar of Mansfield, spoke of the dignity of work, and the plough as the symbol of civilisation.

"Wanderer" (1953)

"Wanderer" (Auth.)
*REVIVAL OF PLOUGH SUNDAY
Worksop Guardian, 6th Jan.1953, Vol.58, No.3136, p.5 f

Describes the forthcoming Plough Sunday plough blessing ceremonies at Newark, Blyth and Tickhill, Notts. The Blyth ceremony was in its third year of revival.

Nottingham Guardian Journal (1957)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
'Thing for asking' idea a dangerous heresy [Plough Blessing at Newark, Notts.]
Nottingham Guardian Journal, 14th Jan.1957, No.J40851/G31371, p.5 e-h

Description of the annual Plough Sunday service in Newark parish church held yesterday, including a summary of the sermon.

Photo with caption:

"Notts young farmers carrying the plough leave St. Mary's Church, Newark with the Bishop of Southwell, Dr Russell Barry and the Mayor of Newark (Coun. R.A.Hurst) after attending a Plough Sunday Service yesterday"

Newark Advertiser (1957b)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
PLOUGH SUNDAY SERVICE [Newark]
*Newark Advertiser, 16th Jan.1957, Vol.104, No.5195, p.11,12c-e

*Photo and report of the Plough Sunday Plough Blessing service at Newark Parish Church. The photo shows white coated members of the Nottinghamshire Young Farmers' Clubs on the steps of the church, carrying a single furrow horse-drawn plough, along with the Major of Newark and the Bishop of Southwell.

Nottinghamshire Local History Council Collection (1963, B.D.Crowden)

Mrs. B. D. Crowden (Col.)
"Memories of Newark" [Plough Monday at Caunton]
Nottinghamshire Local History Council Collection, Com. 28th Apr.1963, Ref.DD121/3/13

One of 16 essays entered for a competition. It is a historical description of bygone Newark, but not really from personal memory. It includes the following passage;

"I do remember Plough Boys calling at my home to 'act their little piece' as they put it. I saved the Plough Monday Play at Caunton and gave it to Mr. Maurice Barley MA, of Nottingham University."

[A manuscript text of a Caunton play dated 1954 is in the M.W.Barley Collection. There was clearly an intermediate collector, who is not identified.]

[Nottinghamshire Archives' online catalogue gives Ref.DD/121/7 for "Miss" Crowden's essay.]

Nottingham Guardian Journal (1969)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
*PLOUGH SUNDAY AT NEWARK
*Nottingham Guardian Journal, 13th Jan. 1969

Report of the Plough Sunday service at Newark, Notts. The photo shows six members of Notts., Young Farmers' Clubs, dressed in white coats, carrying a plough at the head of the procession through the streets of Newark.

Nottingham Evening Post (1969)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Christians urged to be more outspoken [Plough Blessing in Newark]
*Nottingham Evening Post [?], 13th Jan. 1969

*Article starting with the words "Two bishops..." and ending "...in Westminster." The article relates to Plough Blessing in Newark but no other information is recorded in the file.

The article could not be found in the microfilmed copy of the Nottingham Evening Post of this date in the Nottingham City Library.

South Notts Advertiser (1971)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
A play for mummers
*South Notts Advertiser, 13th Feb. 1971

Report of a Plough Play performed at Newark Folk Club by an eight-man troupe from Mansfield. Malicious ploughing is mentioned.

Nottingham Traditional Music Club (1972)

Nottingham Traditional Music Club (Research Group) (Auth.)
Centuries-old custom that is fading from memory [Plough Monday]
Mansfield & North Nottinghamshire Chronicle Advertiser, 20th Jan.1972, No.5249 (New Series 1033), p.7 h-i

This article gives a potted history of the activities of Plough Bullocks on Plough Monday or Plough Bullock Night around Mansfield, Notts., and asks for information.

Plough blessing is mentioned (at Newark, East Drayton and Gotham, Notts.), as is malicious ploughing. Fragments of play text are given, characters being: [an Introducer], Saint George, Slasher/Soldier, Doctor, Beelzebub, Mickey Bent, Rake, Molly Mop, Tommy Tup, and Polly Flinders.

The author on behalf of the club was P.T.Millington - There was no response.

Nottingham Guardian Journal (1973)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
They follow the plough [Plough Sunday service at Newark, Notts.]
*Nottingham Guardian Journal, 8th Jan. 1973

Report of the Plough Sunday service at Newark, Notts. The photo shows a head on view of six Young Farmers in white coats carrying a plough at the head of a civic procession through the streets of Newark.

Evening Post [Nottingham] (1975b)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Problem is spiritual not economic - Bishop [Plough Sunday Service, Newark, Notts.]
*Evening Post [Nottingham], 19th Jan.1975, p.7 a-f

Report of the Plough Sunday service at the Parish Church, Newark, Notts., 1975. A photo shows the plough being carried from the church by members of Young Farmers' Clubs. A list of the dignitaries present is included.

Newark Advertiser (1976d)

*[Anon.] (Auth.)
*[Palace Theatre's "Newark Mummers" at Thoresby Hall]
*Newark Advertiser, 5th Jun.1976

"Thoresby Hall was the setting for a medieval market of the Bank Holiday weekend. Among those taking part was a group from The Palace Theatre Company, Newark.

The group, let by Mrs Betty Smith, has eight members and is known as the Newark Mummers. It was formed by the comptroller of Thoresby Hall for mummers to perform plays in the grounds on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The group hopes to continue staging plays there until the hall closes later on this year.

The mummers have three plays in their repertoire - one that was written for them, another from an existing play, and one that is being adapted by Mrs Smith from one of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

The mummers have made their own costumes and props, and two of them, Charles Chambers and Peter Hayward, also play flute and drums when they mingle with crowds at Thoresby Hall."

Nottingham Evening Post (1979 - a)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
PLOUGH IN PLACE OF HONOUR
Nottingham Evening Post, 8th Jan.1979, No.31253 (Edition 7 East - some versions only), p.1a-e

Photograph of six men in white coats carrying a plough at the head of a procession alongside the following text:

"AN OLD-style plough took a place of honour at a service at Newark Parish Church. This symbol of agriculture is pictured being carried into the church at the head of a civic procession, for the annual Plough Sunday celebration, which was attended by local farmers and councillors. Among those in the procession from the Town Hall were the chairman of the Notts. County Council, Coun. Mrs. Madge Whittaker, Mayor of Newark Coun. Roy Bird, chairman of Newark District Council Coun. John Sides, members of the National Farmers Union and Newark Charter Trustees. Guest preacher at the service was the Archdeacon of Lindsey, Lincs. The Ven. Bill Dudman."

Newark Advertiser (1980)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Time for a blessing: Food biggest 1980 worry for some
Newark Advertiser, 11th Jan.1980, Vol.127, No.6690, p.17a-d

Photo of white coated Young Farmers waiting for the blessing of the plough at Newark Parish Church, Notts. The report of the Plough Sunday service includes a summary of the topical sermon.

Nottingham Evening Post (1981)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Of cabbages and kings [Plough Sunday service at Newark]
Nottingham Evening Post, 12th Jan. 1981, No.31869 (East Edition), pp.1c-e

Photograph with the caption: "The Bishop of Southwell, the Rt. Rev. Denis Wakeling, blesses the plough at the service in the parish church. It is in the centre of Notts. Young Farmers (in white coats). To the Bishop's right is the Rev. Ben Lewers, Rector of Newark." and short article describing the sermon and the attendees at the Plough Sunday service in Newark Parish Church.

Newark Advertiser (1983a)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Cities halt life rhythm -bishop [Newark Plough Blessing on Plough Sunday]
Newark Advertiser, 14th Jan.1983, Vol.131, No.6844, p.7

*Plough Sunday service at Newark, Notts.

South Notts Advertiser (1983a)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Cities halt life rhythm -bishop [Plough Sunday Service, Newark, Notts.]
South Notts Advertiser, 14th Jan.1983, Vol.131, No.6844, p.7

Report of Plough Sunday Plough Blessing service at Newark, Notts. Includes photo.

South Notts Advertiser (1984)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
A blessed and gilded plough [Plough Sunday at Newark, Notts.]
South Notts Advertiser, 13th Jan. 1984, Vol.132, No.6896, p.1,7

*Report of plough blessing performed at Newark, Notts. on Plough Sunday

South Notts Advertiser (1985)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
BISHOP BLESSES YOUNG FARMERS' PLOUGH: Food 'a powerful weapon' [Newark]
South Notts Advertiser, 11th Jan. 1985, Vol.133, No.6948, pp.20,41

Photo of the Bishop of Southwell blessing Notts. Young Farmers' plough in Newark, Notts. parish church on Plough Sunday, with a report on his sermon.

Newark Advertiser (1990)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Breaks new ground for Plough Sunday
Newark Advertiser, 12th Jan.1990, Vol.138, No.7206, p.42 a-e

Report of the 1990 Plough Sunday service at Newark Parish Church. The Bishop of Sherwood blessed the plough, which was carried into the church by eleven Young Farmers' Club members. A photo shows the Bishop and Young Farmers with the plough, and the article gives a list of the dignitaries present.

South Notts Advertiser (1990)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
Breaks new ground for Plough Sunday
South Notts Advertiser, 12th Jan.1990, Vol.138, No.7206, p.42 a-e

Report of the 1990 Plough Sunday service at Newark Parish Church. The Bishop of Sherwood blessed the plough, which was carried into the church by eleven Young Farmers' Club members. A photo shows the Bishop and Young Farmers with the plough, and the article gives a list of the dignitaries present.

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