"The Hard times of Old England"

[Geoffers]

Anyone with a long memory may recognise the title and some of the contents from a posting several years ago in another place. The details are worth posting again for those new to research. Brownie points as ever to anyone who can name the band, one of whose songs forms the title of this thread.

The Rector of Frettenham in Norfolk in the mid-19th century kept a form of journal in the Baptism Register - it doesn't last many years, the detail is limited - but the information is a glimpse into life at the time; these are extracts:

"1844-5. The winter set in with great severity on the 6th of December & continued with frost throu'out December (and) The first part of Jany 45.......the cold on the 21st, severe frost on the 27 snow which continued this whole of February up to the 22nd.........fall of snow on Mar 4........very heavy fall on the 17th, very cold & wet."

continued.....

[Geoffers]

"1846.The common was enclosed. Allotments given to those cottages previously without them......Easter Day April12th was appointed as a day of thanksgiving for the 4 victories gained by our troops on the river Sutledge in India.......The Corn bill was passed in this session - will a free trade in corn answer? Wheat in this year a good crop in quantity & in quality, barley, oats, peas & beans deficient, hay crop good........Distress in Ireland very great from failue of Potatoes. Price of all provisions raised here in consequence. Wheat from 35 to 39 per coomb. Barley from 18 to 28 & even 30 per coomb. Oats 20 to 25."

"1847 - Frost and snow thro' out January, tho' it thawed occasionally - the same thro' out Feby. Prices of provisions very high - Famine & fever in Ireland, a (diocesan?) letter ordered us to preach in their behalf, collected (£)13 - 3(s) - 6(d) at the time and a few shillings afterwards.

NB The new Rector of Horstead having been advised to dispute my claim to the Horstead Pension, we agreed to refer it to the (…..?) Bishop's Registrar to arbitrate, when he decided in favour of the Rector of Frettenham So I hope that matter in finally settled this day Feby 25 1847.

continued.....

[Geoffers]

1847 continued....

The price of all provisions were very dear thro' out the summer till harvest, wheat reached 55d per coomb & in one instance 60d was given for a very good sample. Meat too Tong from 8d to 9d per lb Legs of Mutton fetched in Nor 1s per lb

The poor of this parish were worse off than at any period of my incumbency, wages not being in proportion to the high price of provisions - 12s & 13s being the price of labour per week.

The 24th of March was appointed for a fast day (…..?) the removal of these heavy judgements now pressing upon us - and the 17th day of Octr for a day of thanksgiving for the late abundant harvest which brought all provisions to a fair price again - but the speculation attendant on the late scarcity & on the free trade in corn adopted in the last session of Parliament caused the failure of many large & old established firms & much distress thro' out the country.

A very mild winter, Influenza & bad colds prevalent."

continued.....

[Geoffers]

"1848. Wm REMMINGTON blacksmith hung himself! Coroners verdict temporary insanity - his (…..?) & circumstance preyed upon his mind. Mrs READ relict of Mr. Thos READ farmer died Jany 5 of a cancer having been a sufferer for some years."

Aug Weather fickle - Wheat housed in a bad state. Septr very warm & fine. 2 fires occurred in the parish, one the wheat stack of John BUCK a labouring man, the other a large barley rick of Mr UTTING's at Stanninghall.

A remarkably mild winter, but Cholera having prevailed in London & some cases having occurred in this County; The board of Guardians formed a sanitary committee & nuisances (…..?) pools & such like were ordered to be removed."

continued.....

[Geoffers]

"1849 - Free trade in corn now adopted & come into full play . 1st Wheat was sold at from 20 to 24 per coomb barley from 12 to 16 - Oats from 10 to 12, butchers meat 5d to 6 1/2 d. The Common land being now in a state of cultivation. Much rain fell in Jany, crops of grass mist abundant. June being fine. Cholera exists in many towns, but as yet not fatal to any great extent. Frosts in May and even June cut off the prospect of fruit & all but strawberries are very scarce. The Agricultural Society met in Norwich.


"1850 Very cold spring. July 2 Sir R PAL who had a fall from his horse died. Fine harvest weather but crops deficient, prices very low. George MAYES (…..?) was killed riding the shafts of waggoon. Scarlet fever very fatal in Nor: & surrounding parishes"

continued......

[Geoffers]

"1851 - Prices low but crops on light lands good. Winter mild snow in Novr for 3 or 4 days - none after."



"1852 Backward spring & much rain. Then extreme heat & drought. Wet harvest. Nov & Dec, extreme wet, floods prevail much damage done.


"1854 War with Russia sad losses from incompetence of government, but victories at Alma and Inkerman Nov 5th fatal charge at Balaclava Oct."

"1857 Dreadful mutiny in India, beautiful summer........scarlet fever in parish."

"1858 rent charge above average. Much fighting in India, our troops generally successful."

continued......

[Geoffers]

"1860 Cold backward spring & summer, heavy thunder storms. June 20th 2 horses of Thos Read (....?) near Langmere were struck dead."

"1863 Finest harvest for many years, very dry winter & spring of 1864."

"1864 Hot summer, ponds all dried up, wells low. harvest good."

"1865 Cold spring hot & dry summer. American Civil War ceased, south being defeated. Harvest very short, crops about a third on our light lands."

The above is just an extract of some of the notes in the register.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Copper]

Thanks for posting these comments, I enjoyed reading them. I have farmers and ag labs in Cambridgeshire in that period, so the comments about the weather and harvests have added to my knowledge of their possible hardships.

[busyglen]

That was really interesting Geoffers! Just shows us how times have changed....well in this country anyway. As Copper said, it is interesting to know what was going on in the county at that time.

Glenys

[Mythology]

Some of those old country registers are lovely, aren't they?
Unfortunately, most of mine migrated to London by then, where they hardly had time to jot down the basics, but I've come across the same sort of thing in earlier years in some of the Suffolk ones.

Now that I have a fiche reader at home, so time isn't much of a factor, I've been buying some of them from SRO, to take a second look at ones that (a) I missed things in because at that stage I hadn't worked out half the family connections and (b) I just extracted entries from instead of reading the whole thing.

(Can't think of the band though, Geoffers - sounds the sort of title that might have been used by someone like Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band, but I don't think it is, it doesn't ring a bell.)

[busyglen]

Nearly forgot....was it Steeleye Span Geoffers?

Glenys

[Geoffers]

(Can't think of the band though, Geoffers - sounds the sort of title that might have been used by someone like Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band, but I don't think it is, it doesn't ring a bell.)
Mmmm....I don't want to make it too hard, so think of the Latin for 'rejoice'!

Geoffers

[Mythology]

I got thrown out of Latin!

I can usually do it the other way around, make a stab at putting Latin into English, but I'm useless at thinking of what the Latin word might be for an English one unless the English one is an obvious derivative.

I have even less idea now than I did beforehand! :D

[AnnB]

Twas Steeleye Span - one of my all time favourite bands :D I found the lyrics on the web so here they are -

The Hard Times Of Old England by Steeleye Span

Come all brother tradesmen that travel the land
Oh pray come and tell me where the trade is all gone
Long time have I travelled and I cannot find none

And sing oh the hard times of old England
In old England very hard times

Provisions you buy at the shop it is true
But if you've no money there's none there for you
So what's a poor man and his family to do

And sing oh the hard times of old England
In old England very hard times

You must go to the shop and you'll ask for a job
They'll answer you there with a shake and a nod
And that's enough to make a man turn out a rob

And sing oh the hard times of old England
In old England very hard times

You will see the poor tradesman a walking the street
From morning 'till night for employment to seek
And scarce have they got any shoes on their feet

And sing oh the hard times of old England
In old England very hard times

Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war
Been fighting for queen and country this year
Come home to be starved better stayed where they were

And sing oh the hard times of old England
En old England very hard times

And now to conclude and to finish my song
Let us hope that these hard times they will not last long
I hope soon to have occasion to alter my song

Oh the good times of old England
In old England jolly good times

Best wishes
Ann

[Copper]

Duh I should have known it was Steeleye Span - I like their songs. I have a migraine at the moment so that is my excuse :)

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

Very interesting read Geoffers, I wish everyone had done the same thing! I have a couple of books about the life and times way back when, in a small mining Yorkshire Village, given to me by my Aunt, I found them of great interest to me.

Sorry, not heard of that band |blush| and even though I passed my GCE in Latin ...... I can't remember the answer to your question of rejoice!

[Stuman]

Great post Geoffers

The band could be one of a number as it is almost a standard folk tune. The one that springs to my mind is Whippersnapper with Dave Swarbrick.

[Geoffers]

I have even less idea now than I did beforehand! :D
The clue was 'Gaudete'.


Very interesting read Geoffers, I wish everyone had done the same thing! I have a couple of books about the life and times way back when, in a small mining Yorkshire Village,
Nowt to stop similar postings, it would be interesting to read of life in other communities - maybe a different title though - for amining village, how about "The Blackleg Miner"? (another of Steeleye Span).


The band could be one of a number as it is almost a standard folk tune. The one that springs to my mind is Whippersnapper with Dave Swarbrick.
Very true, but I thought I'd go for a band of which I thought most people might have heard.

Geoffers

[Pam Downes]

Do I get a brownie point for owning not only a cassette of Steeleye Span - 'Parcel of Rogues', but also the single of 'Gaudete'?

Pam Downes

[busyglen]

Do I get a brownie point for owning not only a cassette of Steeleye Span - 'Parcel of Rogues', but also the single of 'Gaudete'?

Pam Downes

Do we all get brownie points for knowing the answer, although I don't have a cassette like Pam....that one has long since gone I'm afraid to say. :(

Glenys

[AnnB]

I think Steelye Span's songs could probably provide a whole forum of topics on their own ;) For anyone who hasn't heard them and who thinks they don't like 'folk' music (I was one of those once) please try and find some to listen to, 'cause I think you'll change your mind.
Best wishes
Ann

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

Nowt to stop similar postings, it would be inbteresting to read of life in other communities - maybe a differen title though - for amining village, how about "The Blackleg Miner"? (another of Steeleye Span).
Geoffers
Hi Geoffers,
How would I do this though, without getting into trouble over Copyright? One of the little books is called 'The Sitlington Story' (Middlestown near Wakefield, Yorkshire) compiled by R.D. Woodhall B.A., A.R. Hist. Soc. Published by Horbury School, Horbury, West Yorkshire ...... Any profits from this publication will be donated to Horbury School Fund.

[Viva71]

Geoffers,

Thanks for guiding me to this interesting journal.

It made fascinating reading.

Kind regards Lynda