Mummer’s Plays

1 January 2008

In the past New Year was often brought in with a scare, it was the usual custom (depending on where you lived) on New Year's Day for one's hall or font door to be suddenly thrown open, without any knocking, ringing or other ceremony, and five or six young men dressed in any eccentric or gay clothing they could get hold of (An old soldier's coat was especially prized), would enter in and then proceed to act a little rough play in the hall. They were always careful not to do any harm, though they pretended to be very wild fellows indeed.

I remember these mummers coming around when I was a little lad in Carleton near Skipton and they scared the living daylights out of me (mum meaning silent in medieval times). They were allowed to get on with it as my parents stood to one side whilst I hid half way up the stairs, when finished they must have been given some money or pace eggs?

I cannot remember much but they were generally silent and performed in a bizarre way possibly ringing a bell and using a dust pan and brush, some had black smeared on their faces from the fire-back no doubt.
The principal characters (subject to local variation) are St. George (…of dragon fame.), Captain Slasher, The Turkish Knight, The King of Egypt, Doctor and several men-at-arms who challenge St. George to a duel and are subsequently slain. The Doctor enters and demonstrates his skill by resuscitating the dead knights.

Many historians believe that this drama is a celebration of the death of the year and its resurrection in the Spring. Dialogue was passed on by word of mouth, consequently there was great scope for regional interpretation.

The Lakeland variation on this theme came at Easter when the Jolly Boys attended various homes in the area. More of this when we eventually reach that tropical time of year.

Improve Poor Drainage

2 January 2008

With all the rain before Christmas on top of already soaked ground it should be easy to see the puddles and badly drained areas of your garden.

If parts of your garden often remain waterlogged, or if the lawn has rampant moss (many do in this area) and turns into stepping stone puddles after heavy rainfall it would help a great deal to install a drainage system.


Initially some hard digging is required especially on lawns. Line out a herringbone pattern before you remove the turf carefully and dig trenches. You need to take into consideration the lie of the land because the drains need to lead into a soakaway, larger drainage ditch or even a water feature that is low lying. Clay or plastic land drains can be bought form a builders’s merchant such as Wolseley in Bowness. Dig the trench with a slight fall, and bury drains at least 30 cm deep. To improve drainage further and prevent the drains becoming clogged with soil, pack course grit or fine gravel around and over the drains.

As joints are vulnerable to clogging, cover them with pieces of polythene before adding grit or gravel and returning the soil. Of course plumbers tape is more expensive but sticks like a limpet if you can afford the extra.

To ensure a good fit there the sections butt at side joints the y will need to be cut. Clay drains can be cut using a chisel and of course plastic drains cut more accurately and easier with a saw.

Once the turf is reset and starts to grow again it is unlikely that you will notice where the drains are. Bear in mind that frost and garden pests such as moles may cause upheaval, and burrowing animals may also cause the pipes to sag and break creating strange dints that will need attention otherwise the water will create a serious mess.

On balance it is well worth the effort to get a better drained lawn creating a cool place to lay in the cool of a summer’s eve and contemplate the universe.