"Several mayors have signalized themselves by vigorous attacks on local irregularities and offences.
Mt. Alderman Woolmer, when he was mayor, attacked the sin of drunkenness, consigning to the stocks, both male and female soakers, with a stern determination to show no favour to persons.
The next event in civic history was the attempt of Mr, Sam Kingdon, the cousin of the present mayor, to drive the Cocklers out of the streets. These vendors of shell fish were often pitied before there was a proper accommodation for them, on account of their exposure to all weathers, whilst plying their clamorous vocation; and when the new market was opened several unsuccessful attempts were made to drive them into it - and of all the magistrates, Mr Justice Kingdon was the most vigorous in his efforts. He, however, failed; and, notwithstanding all his fines and fulminations, the Cocklers still walk the streets."
I have blogged this short passage from The Western Times of 26th November, 1842, for the sake of the Cocklers. I realize that I have never given them notice before. They must have been part of the social fabric for decades, probably for centuries. Did they wheel barrows like Molly Malone? They were clearly thought a nuisance if only by Mayor Sam Kingdon, Mayor of Exeter in 1835, and they were still there in 1842. That they too, like Molly, cried 'cockles and mussels, alive alive o!' through streets broad and narrow' is suggested by the words clamorous vocation.
It would seem that Mayor Edward Woolmer, Mayor of Exeter in 1835, was still regularly putting soakers into the stocks outside the Guildhall. There are still soakers, male and female, sometimes sharing the same sleeping bag, outside the Guildhall, and still, somewhere, I think, the stocks, but the two never meet. Pity perhaps?
Fines and fulminations is a pleasing alliteration. It would be even more fun if it were: fining and fulminating Woolmer.
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