September has flown by, but it marks the last of the agricultural shows and village feasts and sports. We went up Swaledale to Muker Show at the beginning of the month, and although the sun did not shine, it did not rain either, and we had a very good day enjoying the lovely dale, chatting with friends and admiring those who put their talents on show. The day ended with Muker Silver Band playing hymns in the village street and several hundred people joining in, which was really very moving. There were splendid things to look at, walking sticks, flower arrangements, a tent full of handicrafts and home made produce; photographs, paintings, gardens on plates and edible necklaces and very neat handwriting from the school children. A highlight of many local shows and feasts in the north is Fell Racing. I think they are mad, but there are competitors who go from one show to another to compete. Can you see the little coloured dots strung up the fellside ? They are people. From the show field to the top, along the horizon for a little way and back down via another route, the winner took eleven minutes fifty nine seconds, and did not even look as if he had broken out in a sweat. There was a competition for children as well who only went part of the way up. They start them young in the dales. Now I never run anywhere, but I am a quick walker and am back on my Friday excursions to York where I have to cover a lot of ground between York railway station and daughter's house in Osbaldwick and back again in as short a time as possible. Fortunately all York is flat. Though my childhood walk to school was always two miles downhill there and the same but uphill home. So although I would never enter a competition I was interested that in the past there were Pedestrian competitions and feats of endurance (which attracted betting). In 1788 wagers were laid on a John Batty who undertook to walk 700 miles on Richmond race course in fourteen days, which evidently he performed with ease - He walked the 1st day fifty nine miles, the 2nd fifty five miles and three quarters, the 3rd fifty two miles and three quarters, the 4th fifty one, the 5th fifty one, the 6th fifty one, the 7th forty three and three quarters, the 10th fifty one, the 11th fifty one and the 12th fifty four and a quarter, the 13th fifty one and the 14th thirty six and three quarters , in all, with the odd yards, seven hundred and six miles and three quarters. In some reports he was described as a "poor pig-driver" and that he was 55 years old, and that he was cheated out of some of his winnings, getting only 16 guineas but was willing to undertake the bet again for 100 guineas. I bet he was, better than driving pigs ! Other competitions on Richmond race course also involved humans and not horses - 12th September 1782 newspapers reported - Yesterday sev’night a youth, about 15 years of age, run two miles over Richmond race-ground in 10 minutes, for a considerable wager , and in running took 10 leaps, each of which were near five feet height. He had 11 minutes allowed to perform it in. He obviously thought he was a horse. This picture is on the ArtUK website and is called A Walking Race by Henry S Sheaf and is in Portsmouth Museum, dated 1839. This must have been a popular type of sport which people of all ranks could indulge in, you didn't need any equipment other than good footwear. Timing was important as there is a steward looking at his pocket watch on the right hand side. The Yorkshire Gazette 6 October 1838 Pedestriansim. On Tuesday last at Richmond, James Wilson, a celebrated pedestrian, undertook to walk 14 miles in 2 hours, to start at the Market Cross and walk one mile out and one in. He accomplished the undertaking with apparent ease, in three minutes within the time. He afterwards made a collection and was well remunerated for his active exertions The only picture I have found of a pedestrian is of Joseph Edge, the Macclesfield Pedestrian, who walked from Macclesfield to London, 172 miles in 50 hours in 1806. Eveidently 2,000 guineas worth of bets were laid on him. His first attempt failed because he stopped at a pub for some beer and then felt ill [!] so he set off again and achieved this great feat. This picture, from ArtUK is by R Bradbury and is in West Park Museum. So little agricultural shows can be great experiences. As a child I had to enter all the competitions at the Wensleydale Show. It was painful, if you made one mistake in your handwriting you had to do it all over again. And not be able to go out and play. I have a memory of sitting in the kitchen copying out the Prayer of Richard of Chichester over and over again, with an ink pen, and I always made a blot or a smudge. The edible necklace was much more fun. And I did once win a prize for painting a picture of our best cow (she was called Olive). I had that picture for years but in a house move it got lost. The most serious business at the show involves sheep, and specifically Swaledale sheep, the local breed. Farmers take great pride in their pedigree stock and inspect each of the pens closely. In the past there would have been classes for cattle as well, but now there are no dairy animals in the dale and few beef animals. Other shows have all sorts of livestock and poultry. In the past the shows were where you advertised that you had the finest stock. I love the picture of these deep bodied cattle. This is a Champion Shorthorn painted by W Smith and is in the Museum of English Rural Life and on the ArtUK website. In the past local shows had all sorts of classes and competitions, and one that was a regular feature in Swaledale, and also all over the country in agricultural districts, was a competition for the person who had reared the largest number of children without any assistance from Parish Relief. The Yorkshire Gazette of 7 November 1840 reported Reeth Fair and Cattle Show - The rewards and premiums were awarded as follows : To the miner or widow of a miner, who had brought up the greatest number of children without parochial assistance - The first prize of £3 to Ann Siddle of Helwith, who was represented to the committee as mother, grandmother and great grandmother to 78, 25 of whom are at present employed in the lead mines. The second prize of £2 to the widow of Simon Harker of Arkengarthdale. The third prize of £1 to the widow of George Hillary of Hurst. The first prize for the best knitted stocking of home spun yarn was awarded to Ann March; the second to Christian March, and the third to the wife of Edward Hillary, all of Hurst. Many other specimens of this branch of female industry were exhibited and sold for large prices. …. then prizes for tups, shearlings, heifers and cows etc In the 1841 census Ann Siddle was about 75 years old, Ann March in Hurst was about 50 and Christian March in Hurst, married to George March a lead miner, was about 35 years old. The following year a prize was offered to the female servant who had remained the longest in the same service. This went to Isabella Hammond who got £2, a servant with Thomas Nelson in Marrick. Second prize went to Rachel Close servant to E A Knowles in Low Row. The March ladies walked away with all the knitting prizes again; the best cow belonging to a miner went to Thomas Bland of Reeth and the best cow belonging to a smallholder to Jane Storey of Castle Bolton. Of course Muker Show had children's races and fancy dress. The only race that I was ever any good at as a child was the egg and spoon, because I could walk very fast and not drop my egg whilst everyone else tried to run and dropped their egg. Me learning to walk. This was UPHILL. Rather fuzzy picture as I think that my brother must have been taking the picture with the old box brownie. I still walk just like that, and I'm still as sturdy ! And the last one is the fancy dress competition at our village Sport's Day. I hope I've made you laugh ! I'm supposed to be a fairy. And the field behind me is now all houses. It is just good to know that local shows and village feasts and fetes and sport's days are still making memories.
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AuthorThis is where you can share creativity with me. I believe that everyone has something creative within them, and it is a joy to find ways of being creative. Blogging is NEW to me, so here goes ..... Archives
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