Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District | Page 2

of both clocks, and St. John's Clock was always kept slightly faster than
the Cathedral Clock. Canon Jones, when Vicar of St. John's, one day
met the late Verger, (Mr. H. Plowman, Senr.) and asked him why St
John's Clock was always faster than the Cathedral Clock, and the
Verger replied:--"Well Vicar, you know, the other disciple did outrun
St. Peter on the way to the Tomb, so St. John has always kept in front
ever since."
Sometimes the coincidences mentioned in the verses occur and
maintain their reputation for veracity:
If in the Minster Close a Hare,
Should for herself have made a lair,

Be sure before the week is down,
A fire will rage within the town
It is very strange but these two events have sometimes happened.
One fire brings two more.
This too has often occurred and in April of this year (1911) three fires
occurred in this district within a week.
These are all I can remember which refer to Peterborough.
Beginning with the County of Northampton we have:

Northamptonshire, more Spires, more Squires, more haughtiness, and
less hospitality than any other County in England.
Northamptonshire for Spires and Squires.
Northamptonshire for Springs and Spinsters.
Thack and Dyke Northamptonshire like.
Marholm, a village near Peterborough.
"They held together like the men of Marholm when they lost their
Common."
This is used when people are divided one against another.
Caster where the woman is master.
"To lose a hog for a ha'porth of tar." The hog referred to is a yearling
sheep.
"To live by the penny." Buying only when anything is absolutely
required.
"As cross as two sticks."
"As cross as old Wilks." Who old Wilks was and why he was cross is
lost in oblivion.
"As wise as Walton's calf who ran nine miles to suck a bull."
"Black as the pot."
"Topsy turvey Moses Webster." Used when things are in a disorderly
state.
"Dance a jig, then come back and buy a pig."
"Go to Farcet." This is a village near Peterborough and the expression

is used instead of advising people to go to Jericho or any other place.
"As fat as moles."
"You've gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick," was a common
expression when I was a school boy, when anyone was relating
something which was incorrect.
Come day, Go day, God sends Sunday.
Sunday moon, flood before it
is out.
Singing before breakfast on Monday, cry before the week is
out. As Friday so Sunday.
Friday is either the fairest or foulest day of
the week.
Sun always shines on Saturday little or much.
Saturday new moon and Sunday full,
Never good and never wull.
JANUARY.
On corner walls,
A glittering row,
Hang pit irons less for use than
show,
With horse-shoe brightened as a spell,
Witchcraft's evil
powers to quell.
John Clare.
The first thing on New Year's morning, open your Bible and the first
verse your finger or thumb touches that verse, will betoken what will
occur during the year.
On New Year's morning if a sprig of green is placed in the Bible, the
verse on which it lies fortells the events of the year.
It is lucky for a dark man to enter the house first on New Year's
morning, and I know a man who used to see the Old Year out and the
New Year in with a friend who always arranged for a very dark man to
wait for him outside his own house until he returned. The man then
entered the house first, and after a glass of something warm and good
wishes, he left.
It is also a custom on New Year's Eve for some people to hide a

sovereign or half-sovereign outside the house and when leaving the
house on New Year's morning to pick up the piece of gold which is said
to ensure their having gold in their pockets all that year.
Whatever is done on New Year's day, you will do throughout the year.
As the weather is the first twelve days of January so it will be for the
twelve months. Each day's weather is taken for the corresponding
month.
Plough Monday, First Monday after Epiphany. This custom has almost
passed away. Only two lots of men were seen in Peterborough this year,
the Stores no doubt not encouraging them as the tradesmen did in the
old times. In Northampton, in 1910, I saw numerous groups of children
with blackened faces and grotesque dresses going about the streets on
this day as Plough witches.
When the day lengthens,
Then the cold strengthens,
On Old Christmas day (7th January new style) the day has lengthened a
cock's skip.
January White.
If the grass grows in January it grows the worse for it all the year.
ST. PAUL'S DAY, 25TH JANUARY.
In some verses dedicated To all my worthy Masters and Mistresses,