Show and Tell Friday over at Kelli's

This Widecombe Fair tea set and cider mug are very special to me. I haven't had them a long time, and as per usual, I found them at a Car Boot Sale. They came dearer than usual, but were still a good buy. I "had" to have them. My dad's side of the family are of West Country stock - our Devon roots go back to time immemorial, hence these pieces being so special to me. (If you double-click, you will see them more clearly). Widecombe is a village in the heart of Dartmoor - a very pretty little village too - and Widecombe Fair is synonymous with Devon. It still takes place each year in September. Here is a link to the site so you can satisfy your curiosity: http://www.widecombe-in-the-moor.com/wid_fair/widecombe_fair.php

Below are the words to the well-known folk song about Uncle Tom Cobley - the design on my china is of course, Uncle Tom Cobley and all! I've included a few more links of interest.

Many stories are told about Widecombe (true and apocryphal) and some of the more interesting will be told on this page. Uncle Tom Cobley Lightning Strikes the Church and Satan Visits! Jay's Grave Some extracts from John Webber's Poems. Uncle Tom Cobley This Widecombe Fair Poem and Folk Song describes the 'adventures' of Uncle Tom Cobley and his friends and the fate that befell the poor old grey mare that they borrowed from Tom Pearce. It is based on a supposedly true happening and you can visit Tom Cobley's grave at Spreyton, just north of Dartmoor. "Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare, All along, down along, out along, lee, For I want for to go to Widecombe Fair, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." "And when shall I see again my grey mare?" All along, down along, out along, lee, "By Friday soon, or Saturday noon, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." So they harnessed and bridled the old grey mare All along, down along, out along, lee, And off they drove to Widecombe fair, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." Then Friday came, and Saturday noon, All along, down along, out along, lee, But Tom Pearces old mare hath not trotted home, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." So Tom Pearce he got up to the top o' the hill All along, down along, out along, lee, And he seed his old mare down a-making her will, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." So Tom Pearce's old mare, her took sick and died, All along, down along, out along, lee, And Tom he sat down on a stone, and he cried With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." But this isn't the end o' this shocking affair, All along, down along, out along, lee, Nor, though they be dead, of the horrid career Of Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." When the wind whistles cold on the moor of the night All along, down along, out along, lee, Tom Pearce's old mare doth appear gashly white, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." And all the long night he heard skirling and groans, All along, down along, out along, lee, From Tom Pearce's old mare in her rattling bones, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all."