NORTHERNHAY, A SONNET, EXETER, 1808.

Not many parks and gardens have had a sonnet written to them.   Northernhay is an exception.  The 'Ruin of Despair' who composed the lines below was James Kemp, about whom little seems to be known other than that he was an Exonian,  the author of' 'Northernhay, a Poem' published in 1808  (the 2nd Edition) and that he was the brother of  Joseph Kemp, (1778 - 1824), a musician who founded a 'musical college' in Exeter in 1814.  James wrote an introductionary sonnet to his poem.  This is it:

 

"Here let me muse, recluse within these shades

Where I so oft opressed with woe respire

Here, where the Curfew's solemn sound invades,

I view the sunbeams down the West retire.

Here I invoke the muse and pensive roam

By moonlight lone that gilds the leafy scene

Here sing how vain the beauty of the grove

And mark the fate that waits on things terrine.

Thy turrets, Rougemont, sheltered by the wind

That seem secure by links of ivy bound

Like the rude Forest-oak or sturdy hind,

Fall to decay, slow crumbling to the ground.

But ah! no sorrows these are doomed to bear

I sink - the grief-worn Ruin of Despair."

At Christmas/New Year 2021/22,  Exeter City Council hired out Northernhay to a provider of 'entertainment'.    The Gardens were closed to the public for eight weeks and trampled underfoot by a multitude throughout Christmas and the New Year.  The damage done then, now in late March, is still sad to see.   The news is that in May '22 the City is inviting another multitude to the Gardens to celebrate pride in its sexual diversity, which party will doubtless increase the scruffiness of the lawns and damage the foliage and terrify the wildlife.  Meanwhile no attention had been given to the 'crumbling' castle walls which the Council have fenced off with ugly steel mesh fencing,   there is still no access to Rougemont Gardens,  the city's  heritage of fine Victorian statuary in the park is dirty and neglected,  (Sir Richard Dyke Acland has lost a hand and there is a crack in his left leg!) and the litter-louts, vandals and grafittists and worse run unregulated through the Gardens day and night. - 

' I sink - the grief-worn Ruin of Despair.'!!!  

JUVENILE ODD FELLOWS, EXETER, 1876.

 In August 1876, one hundred and fifty 'youths' met at  the Odd Fellows Hall in Exeter and, carrying flags and banners, marched, behind a brass band, through the streets of the city   

C.J. Follett, Esq. had kindly granted the boys permission to have a 'treat' in the beautiful grounds of Posloe Park.  They marched there in style:

"Various athletic and other amusements were provided, and at five o' clock the youths were regaled with tea, cakes, &c., supplied by Messrs Wither and Wright, in a large marquee,  The proceedings were kept up with much spirit until dusk. 

"The society was formed for youths from the ages of seven to seventeen years, and they are entitled to the following benefits: - Payments in sickness, medical attendance, and a sum of money at death.   At the age of eighteen members are drafted into any lodge in the Manchester Unity, the admission fee being paid by this Society."

Charles Follett of Polsloe Park was nephew to William Webb Follett, who had been Exeter's M.P. and twice Solicitor General.   Charles seems to have been a worthy philanthropist who was a Mayor of Exeter in the eighteen-seventies.

The 'youths' of  our Welfare State don't need to worry about payments in sickness or medical attendance (though the juvenile 'Oddfellows' are still in existence).  On the other hand they don't much get to march through Exeter behind a brass band and with flags flying which must have been fun. 

Source:The Exeter Flying Post, 23rd August 1876.

  

"REGLAR TIGRANTS", EXETER , 1860

James Thomas's master was Dr, Ridgway.   Dr Ridgway had ordered James Thomas to shoot all the birds that came into his garden because they devoured  the seeds that he sowed.

James obeyed his orders only too zealously.  His bag included a fancy bird, a pigeon, the property of Mr. Kerswell, gardener and, in November, 1869, he was brought up in front of the Mayor and magistrates at the Exeter Guildhall.

In his defence, James Thomas said of pigeons:  "They be reglar tigrants for all green things in a garden." but the court considered that to be no justification for his having killed Mr. Kerswell's fancy pigeon, and he was fined half-a-crown and had to pay five shillings,  the value of the bird, as well as the court costs.

I hope Dr Ridgway footed the bill but I have my doubts.

I blog this unlikely gobbet of news chiefly for the sake of James Thomas's expressive word tigrant which I have not found in any dictionary but we know what James meant.  The news item, however, also illustrates how little compunction our Victorian fathers felt about the killing of small creatures.   Nobody, it seems, suggested to Dr Ridgway that it might be a sad idea to employ a man to shoot every bird in an Exeter garden.         

Source:  The Western Times,  17th November, 1860

EXETER RACES, 1876.

Exeter's racecourse on Haldon had been in business since the eighteenth century.   It is still in business today.  This Victorian report on a day at the races from The Exeter Flying Post (23rd August 1876)  has no surprises except for the use of the discountenanced N word and, perhaps, the presence of Aunt Sally.   The carriages, brakes and wagonettes lining the course must have been much jollier than cars in a car-park,   You could take out the horses and climb up on your carriage and have your own private grandstand and there unpack your hamper and enjoy a picnic as  Mr. Pickwick did on Mr. Wardle's barouche when he visited the grand review at Rochester.     

" A very pleasant and interesting day's sport yesterday opened the race meeting on the well-known and picturesquely situated race course at the top of Haldon.    The weather was fine and the heat of the sun tempered by clouds and a good breeze.  The state of the course also promised a good day's sport and these circumstances combined drew together a very large number of visitors, not only from Exeter, but fom the adjoining and more distant parts of the county.

The couse was lined for a long distance with carriages, brakes, waggonetttes, and vehicles of all descriptions;  the grand stand filled well, and there was a large attendance in the   enclosure.....

The racing was very good, although the number of starters in no case exceeded five, and the arrangements wee carried out in a very satisfactory manner.  Of course "Aunt Sally" and the nigger melodists were prominent figures and other familiar sights of the course were not missing."