The
F O L K / LO R E
Of H E RT F O RD S H I
A brie f list o f m ate rial
c olle cted an d classifie d
by W B. ERI H . G S
of
' Bisho p s Stortford
BIS HO&'S STORTFORD
I 9 l l
TH E F OL K - L OR E OF H E R T F OR D S H I R E .
T would seem that there exists a very general belief in the paucity
in Hertfordshire of what is kn ow n as folk - lore & which may be described as that branch of the study of anti&uities which
O an d embraces everything relating to early bservances customs , to the notions , beliefs , traditions , superstitions and pre&udices of the
I - people . n proof that this is by no means the case , this hand list has been printed which serves to indicate , in the briefest manner , the
’ item s which have fallen into the compiler s note - book within the past ten years . He has had few opportunities of gathering material at
first hand , but there is little doubt that , given the necessary leisure and the exercise of patience and tact , a goodly harvest of ancient lore might be gathered in the districts rem ote from the in&uence of
- railways , such as the regions north of Buntingford and north west of
H emel Hempstead . T b here are proba ly too , many sources of information to which the compiler has not had access and this list could doubtless be considerably extended if only those conversant with such matters would impart to him the benefit of their knowledge . He trusts in course of time it may be practicable to print a volume upon the Folk
of C lore the ounty , of which this is but a tentative index , in its
co- entirety, but to do this the operation of th ose interested must be invoked and a committee formed for the purpose of carrying it out . I n the meantime he would gratefully welcome any notes upon the sub&ect which could be utilised in either the Hertfordshire N otes
' Mr rds /zz re Merz u r N and &ueries ( m y) , or West Herts otes and
’ at om ser er T &ueries ( W f Ob v ) . hese useful columns not only serve
’ to chronicle , among other things , this record of man s beliefs and customs , which would probably otherwise be lost , but they stimulate readers to recal l to memory recollections of the past and induces them to i mpart their knowledge for the general advantage of all .
Od oéer r I , 9 I . CL A S S I F ZCA TJON
B E L I E F S .
C HAR MS .
C USTO MS .
F L O K S O NG S .
GA M E S .
Y I I G H OST L V S O NS .
L E G EN DS AN D T RAD I T I N S O .
P R VE R S AN D SAYI N GS O B .
W I T C H CRAFT AN D POS S ESS I O N & TH E F OL K - L OR E OF
H E R TF R E OR D SH I .
B E L I E F S .
- O BELL R PE BREAKI NG .
I - m . f rung after wedding, ill o en for the couple C O D H O R N AND IS NESTY . D ealers in corn , millers and bakers , always deemed to be
dishonest .
- DANES BLO OD .
P rowm I n lants known by this name , g g any place , indicative Of D . anes being slain there .
F R HARE O E CA S TI NG F I RE .
H are venturing into town or village said to forecast a fire . S HARE UNLUCKY .
G . enerally regarded as uncanny , witches taking that guise
UD G ME NTS I I O N MPIETY . w Farmers imprecating the eather either struck dead , incapaci
a t ted or crops cease to grow .
’ M O O NWORT S POWERS .
Plant possesses mystic powers in relation to iron , such as
&C . horseshoes , locks ,
M URDERERS D ISCOVERED . ’ M urdered persons blood said to &ow when touched by the
guilty . R S AI N IGN .
The music of German bands held to forecast rain . R O ’S I O SEMARY NDICATI N .
& . Where it ourishes, the wife said to be master
STO NES G R OWI NG .
P . ieces of conglomerate , likewise stones in fields, said to grow O TALISMAN I C G LD P I ECE .
I . nstance of find , proving singularly fortunate to discoverer
T ELLI NG T H E BEES . ’ The hives must be told Of death in Owner s family . T H E FO LK - LO R E OF I H E RTFO R DS H RE .
H AR MS C .
AGUE CURE . BER K H AMSTED . Locks of sufferers ’ hair driven by wedges into tree trunk and
violently torn from head , said to afford relief from ague .
’ - K I NG S EVI L C URE . GADDESDEN . T oad mutilated or killed and dried , said to be a specific .
’ - K I NG S EVI L C URE . O FFLEY . O Youth cured by religious bservances .
- S RIDGE TILE . H I TC H I N .
I S Of n hape horse , on gable ends , believed to protect buildings
from evil spirits .
’ ’
sy TH s . I H O S O FO S T O . . WELL WATER B S P S T RT RD Held to be good for sore eyes and useful as con stituent of pea
soup .
C S TOMS U .
BEAT I NG T H E B O UNDS . P A L ractised at bbots angley , Barnet, Bengeo , and other places
in the county .
BUR I AL O F C H I LD .
I i in & m . ncident of B ble , glass and key placed coffin sy bolical
BUR IAL O F GIPSY . I nstance of apparel and &ewellery burnt after funeral of owner .
-N T D A Y D OUG H U .
S mall cakes made at Baldock on Shrove Tuesday .
F I G S UNDAY . Figs eaten at Ki mpton an d elsewhere in N orth Herts on Pal m
Sunday .
-D AY GANG I NG . ’ A practice at Bishop s Stortford probably the May- day
Observance .
G OOD E NI NG .
On S Widows perambulate Braughing collecting doles t . ’ Thomas s day . T H E FO LK -LO RE O F E RT R DS I R E H FO H .
HARVEST . Bowl with lighted candle used at harvest festival at Little
Hadham . S HARVE T . Water thrown on last load of corn at Hitchin to ensure fruit
fulness . I H M H TC I N EAD . D m rink ade from honey , for which Hitchin was celebrated .
H OCK E R I L L C B LU . A H ockerill &ocular institution connected with an inn in , ’ Bishop s S tortford .
O - H CK TIDE . Observance at Hexton accompanied by rough play and feasting
and supposed to commemorate Danish defeat .
H OT- C O S R SS BUN .
to D Believed be connected with the worship of goddess iana, R at oyston .
K K EEPI NG ATTER N .
S . K Festival in honour of t atherine , patroness of lace makers ,
at Wigginton .
L L S AM MAS AND .
’ Rights of commonage granted in conse&uence of Alfred s D Victory over the anes at Ware . M LO L AY RDS AND ADI ES . Observed on the first of May at Baldock by dressing effigies
and collecting tribute .
M - D A Y H AY AT H ITC I N .
Observed by dancers in fantastic garb , singing verses (see M S ayers ong) .
PANCA KE BELL .
Rung at Hoddesdon on Shrove Tuesday .
& - O& LADI ES . C S A D 1 5 t akes made at t . lbans on ecember g , possibly in
ridicule of R omanism . T H E FO LK - LO R E O F ERT R DS I RE H FO H .
’ S T S . A B L AN BREAD .
Peyn de S eyn t Albon & perhaps a delicacy Of the mediaeval
period .
’ S T V D A Y . ALENTINE S . C d A hil ren Visit houses at lbury , Hadham and elsewhere , S inging a refrain and collecting pence .
- S OUL CAKES . Oat cakes made on All S ouls ’ Day (probably in H erefordshire
not Hertfordshire) .
S W ON H O EAR ING T E H RNS .
e Jocular custom at inns in H oddesdon and Ware , to secur
certain fanciful privileges .
WASTE LAND .
Waste land sown with lucerne is held to denote ownership .
F L K S O N S O G .
& D F F - A - D OW - D A N ILLY , ETC . O f V erses sung by children when f ering wild daffodils for sale .
& GO O - O OW O O V I N D M R R T Y U , ALENT E , ETC .
Refrain chanted by Children when visiting h ouses on St .
’ V Of O alentine s day m orning , for the purpose btaining pence .
U Y U Y S I I G G . , , T CK N A PIE , ETC , Refrain chanted by Children while taking an effigy Of Guy
Fa wkes round and asking for coppers .
O O & L D M H M . O T ER AS N , ETC
Refrain sung by Children when engaged in skipping .
U S . REMEM BER PO O R MAYERS ALL , ETC Of Ma Verses sung by men in gay attire on the First y, when
collecting tribute .
E TH M AID O F T H E M ILL . S M I Of ong, the heroine of which was ary redale Baldock .
8 T H E FO LK -LO RE O F I H E RT FO R DS H RE .
G A ME S .
A L L O H . I N T GET ER , ETC
& & w Skipping rhyme girls run out at the ord fire .
& - BULLS WARNING . A m ga e of touch with clasped hands .
& COC K R O BI N I S DEAD AND BUR I ED H ERE , ETC . & & & One child is cock robin , another is apple tree after word
knock all children h op .
’ E VERY MO RN I NG AT E IG HT O CLOCK , ETC .
S & kipping rhyme girl named runs out and another runs in .
F - OW O R O - PO HAL B LS R LLY LLY .
A O f S species kittles , played with fi fteen pins .
R O R O H VI UND AND UND T E LLAGE, ETC . & & R an d m ing game girl runs outside under arched ar s , finally
Choosing lover .
S O R O H S U N ALLY G UND T E , ETC . & R & S ing game girls spin round inging , then reverse .
S M V P ALT , USTARD , I NEGAR , EPPER .
S & S kipping refrain girl skips lowly , but at word pepper
rope is twisted as &uickly as possible .
T H P G O F M ERE STANDS A RETTY I RL I NE . & R & ing game child in centre Chooses partner , kisses , leaving
partner who in turn Chooses .
TH W O M & ERE AS A J LLY ILLER , ETC .
G -in - & irl stands in centre , others walk in twos arm arm at last
word , the pairs break up and Change , givi ng centre girl , the O m . iller , pportunity to secure partner
T H N READ MY EEDLE .
Children form arches with hands and sing four line verse . &A local variant of O ranges and T H E FO LK - LO R E O F I H E RTFO R DS H RE .
H O S T L Y V I S I O N S G .
E AS H W LL .
H eadless figure in black seen in churchyard .
BAR K WAY . Apparition of former m istress of Sir Peter Saltonstall appeared
to him . H O ’ S O FO BIS P S T RT RD .
V Of S n olunteer ficer , accidentally hot in grounds of Wi dbill
H ouse , said to have been seen after death . O O B VINGD N . A gleaming presence is the term applied to som ething see n a L to run along w ll in Box ane , Bovingdon .
C H ES H UNT . H ouse in Theobalds Park reputed to be haunted by various
ghosts . G L & T G rey ady seen at he reat H ouse , bloodstains visible in
upper room . G RAVELEY . The E vil O ne throwing shovelful s of earth from Whom erly & T S & S Wood , whi ch form he ix Hills at tevenage , threw a off G seventh , which , misdirected , knocked the steeple raveley
Church . FI HAT ELD . C oach and h orses drive up to Hatfield H ouse , through main
door, up the staircase and disappear . Veiled woman appeared to Eli z abeth Freeman at H atfield
and gave her message for Charles I I . FO H ERT RD . Mem ber of D unster family who com mitted &suicide in
en n in sbur m . J g y Far pond , seen periodically K I ’ S L NG ANGLEY .
M onks seen in Priory orchard , apparently seeking for buried
treasure . K BWO H NE RT . A K m Of pparition seen at nebworth H ouse , pre onitory death in
the family . O P I RT N . A R D n pparition of headless oyalist , beheaded at High ow ,
seen there on anniversary of death .
I O T H E FO LK- LO R E O F E RT R DS I R E H FO H .
R IDGE . Ghost of Sir Henry Blount said to appear in his study at T tten han er y g .
S T. A B S L AN .
1 2 A pparition of M other Haggy appeared in 7 1 . S AR RATT .
Apparition of headless person seen in house at Sarratt . S W B WO H A R IDGE RT . S H orseman , supposed to be ir &ohn J ocelyn , seen riding down S avenue at Hyde Hall , awbridgeworth . S TEVENAGE . & Huge black dog seen near The Six Hills and Whom erly
Wood , also i n avenue leading to chu rch . T W I E N .
Of Ghost Lady Cathcart seen in room at Tewin Water . Apparition of Lady Sabine appeared to General Sabine at
Tewin H ouse at the time of her decease . T RI NG . S Black dog , the disembodied pirit of C olley who murdered the
T . Osbornes at ring and was gibbeted , seen on site of gibbet WARE.
G F osbrooke O f G host of J onas , maker the reat Bed of
Ware, said to appear to anyone wh o dared to sleep thereon .
WATFO RD . ’ Lord Capel s ghost said to appear at Cassiobury on the Of anniversary his decollation .
L E G E N D S A ND T R A D I T I O N S . A B LD URY .
S G G ravade E A ir uy de , a dabbler in the vil rt , vanishes with
e . house a nd servant , r appears on anniversary of the event
ANSTEY . A fiddler volunteers to explore the subterranean passage from
Cave Gate to Anstey Castle and is lost therein . A H LDEN AM . Trees growing from tomb held to be indicative that the person
commem orated was a sceptic .
I I T H E FO LK - LO R E O F I H E RT FO R DS H RE .
S T A O L W . Y T . A RENCE I I I Hat of Henry V . and shoes of Anne Boleyn supposed to
have been given as a token of the gift of the manor . S H G . BER K AM TED , REAT ’ C R F rithsden hest of gold buried in ose s H ole , , was partly
raised but lost by the finders who spoke and broke the Charm . O B OVINGD N . Part of churchyard supposed to have been desecrated by
bloodshed , persons buried therein cannot rest .
BYGRAVE . P d edlar m urdered and beheaded at Bygrave House , walke
in the neighbourh ood . L & ady and child , buried beneath drawing oor of Bygrave & & H ouse , also walked . C H H H C O ES UNT , WALT AM R SS . ’ Story of &ueen E leanor s devotedness and its se&uel as told
B r m fi l by a a e d farmer to his friend. S FLAM TEAD . T he & Wicked Lady Ferrers who turned highway robber h upon occasion and was killed , reappeared in connection wit
several fires at Markyate Cell .
HERTI NG FO RDBURY . T N G ’ omb in the churchyard , said to be ell wyn s , actually that f E z C O L C . of li abeth ullen , mistress first ord owper K ’S L I NG ANGLEY .
R I I I Of Chi erfield For &eering at ichard . the women pp were
deprived of dower when the husband died intestate . K BWO H NE RT . S Jenny pinner , a story founded upon the belief that a girl W K with a spinning heel haunted nebworth H ouse . L ILLEY .
& J ohn Kellerman the Last Of the Alchemists reputed to have D had the aid of the evil in his experiments . O S O H DDE D N . A S pparition said to have been seen at tanborough .
1 2 T H E FO LK -LO R E OF E RT R D S I R E H FO H .
P H EL AM , BRENT . P S honk s P m D iers , who slew the elha ragon and being E t hreatened by the vil One , desired to be buried in the wall
of the church where his tomb is to be seen . O RED B UR N . Won rere & m When the brook over ows , fa ine or other calamity
ensues . A R omish convert staying at Redbo urn had Visions Of the D evil in the shape of a lion .
R ICK MANSWO RTH . Trees at M oor Park are said to have been decapitated in m D M me ory of the unfortunate uke of onm outh .
T S . S . ALBAN The Devil was discovered in a cellar in the Shape Of a ram
and was killed and eaten . Sir Ralph de Rayne was m urdered while on his way to his
. L G wedding His wraith appeared to his bride ilian rey , wh o
swooned and died . S O AND N . Lad overhears robbers plan to rob mansion at Woodley Yards
and gives information to the owner . He is afterwards cap
tured by the gang and &ayed alive . The Lord of the Manor residing at H ankins is warned by a f O . T dream the destruction of his house and family his ,
finding to be true , causes him t o commit suicide .
SAWB R IDGEWORT H . S f Two isters o evil life , residing at M anor H ouse in Says
G . ardens were swallowed up , together with the h ouse S STANSTEAD ABBOT . Site of church said to have been remo ved from vi llage to
present position by supernatu ral agency .
STEVENAGE . & The Six Hills are reputed to have been constructed by
diabolic agency , the hills representing shovelful s of earth Whom e rl thrown there by the Evil One . H oles in y Wood O held to be source whence earth was bt ai ned . W TE I N . T rees growing from tomb held to be indicative that the person
commemorated was a sceptic .
1 3 T H E FO LK -LO RE OF
H E RT FO R DS H I RE .
WALKER N . S ite of church said to have been removed from Box , in
S . tevenage parish , to Walkern , by supernatural agency O WATF RD . Fig- tree growing out of a tomb held to be indicative that the
person commemorated was a sceptic .
WESTO N . ’ L e s Jack O g , a giant and highway robber , but benefactor to
the poor , was finally captured , killed and buried in the church S yard where his grave is still hown .
O L . WYM NDLEY , ITTLE Disinherited Prior said to roam the Monks Walk at Wymondley
P riory . The celebrated Chestnut Tree is said to have been planted by
m sar Julius C t o mark the extent of his con&uest .
NO P LACE SPECI F IED . A Hertfordshire farmer , disputing with a mower , says that
D . the evil may reap his crop , which accordingly happens
A V I S NG S .
C OO I N A O H W . UCK PR IL C ME E ILL , ETC f ’ Refers to duration O cuckoo s visit .
D I RTY T RING .
Part of town lying in a vale , the roads in wet weather were miry .
& H ERTFORDS H I RE A I R .
Reputed to be healthy and invigorating . S O O O FO H C B C S H . HERT RD I RE LU S AND L UTED N , ETC A n expression , referring to the early rising of the labourers .
HERT FO RDS H I RE HEDGE H OGS .
N S O- atives called because they are reputed to be bad neighbours .
& HERT FO RDS H IRE KINDNESS . S aid to refer to the custom of returning hospitality directly
afterwards .
HERT FO RDS H IRE T H ICK HEADS . They say of the H ertfordshire people that if a man fall he ’ll
come to no harm as long as he falls on his head .
I 4 T H E FO LK & LO R E O F E RT R D S I RE H FO H .
& I N O R YE . J ULY , S ME REAP , ETC R efers to early harvesting .
NO H H O O EART CAN T I N K , N T NGUE CAN TELL , ETC .
Has reference to buried treasure near E lstree . O O & S IDE P CKET F R A T O AD .
Alluding to the uselessness of anything .
TH E BAI LY O F R OYST ON .
n A personage of some importa ce , but it probably alludes to
Royston in Y orkshire . A R O S O H O C B I M O F A S Y T N RSE AND A AM R DGE ASTER RT , ETC .
A covert allusion to the arrogance Of an MA . I O T H H H H I R ow . RI NG , W ING AND VING E , T REE C URC ES ALL N A
E xplanation unnecessary . T I I H O H I S I RI NG , W NG AND V ING E , T REE D RTY VILLAGE AL . I N A &
R ow . , ETC S D T ee remarks on irty ring . T I I H O O F RI NG , WI NG AND V NG E , HAMPDEN H AM PDEN DID
F O O . REG , ETC Hampden said to have lost these manors as a result of striking
the Black Prince . W A D E S MI L L WO H H F LO O . WARE AND , RT AL ND N It is supposed that the rise of the malting industry brought
prosperity to these places , hence the saying .
&
H V S O O . W EN ERULAM T D , ETC
A V S . A lludes to the decay of erulam and rise of t lbans . H ’ H CH I F I & & W ERE D YE T IN K , PPER ELD
A cryptic al lusion to this rem ote village , possibly connected
w ith the success or failure of the cherry crop . I O & WICKED W IGG NT N . The village obtained its sobri&uet from the venial crime of
poaching .
F R Ax I NU S C O . I N LIV , ETC R A efers to the ash , which thrives on the high ground at shridge
Park .
I S T H E FO LK - L O R E O F I H E RT FO R DS H RE .
VVI TCH CR A F T A ND &OS S E S S I O N . O BALD CK . T wo witches (names unknown) were ducked .
O & BO BR URNE . s Frances Bai ly , accu ed of witchcraft .
BUS HEY . w J oan White , accused of itchcraft .
C H ES H UNT . I A m c e . srael y , said to be bewitched S FLAM TEAD . T M homas Burridge , of arkyate , possessed .
G G . ADDESDEN , REAT Y oung woman , nam e unknown , possessed . S G L I . ADDE DEN , TTLE
M . ary H all , said to be possessed
H L . H AD AM , ITTLE f A O . lice Free, accused witchcraft
H ITC H I N .
E z D . li abeth ay , said to be possessed I O CKLE F RD .
T w z . homas Harding , said to be a i ard
N O RTON .
P z . E z K John almer , said to be a wi ard li abeth nott accused wi of tchcraft .
ROYSTON . Joan Harrison and her daughter executed for practising Witch
craft .
T L S . S . A BAN
A witch (name unknown) ducked .
- - M b . ary y chance , a witch ducked
S ARRATT . ’ J ohn Baldwin s Children said to be possessed .
STANDON .
M . Joan ills , accused of witchcraft
TRI NG .
R . J oan and uth Osborne , accused of witchcraft , were murdered kfi l & I Toc e d . saac , said to be possessed
E R N W A L K .
w . Jane Wenham , accused of itchcraft & VARE .
S i . Jane tretton , said to be bew tched
1 6