A WORCESTERSHIRE BOOK
Originally published in 1932. Absolutely fascinating book about the folklore and traditions of Worcestershire. Contains loads of info on the origination of phrases, words, field names etc. Also has sections on superstitions, proverbs, customs and games. Of great interest to anyone interested in folklore or anthropology. The second part of the book is devoted to recipies and ancient remedies and relevant to anyone with an interest in natural healing, herbal remedies or cooking. There are some great recipes and many of the herbal cures would still be relevant and useful today (though, to be fair, some of them are, at best, dubious...) Brilliant little book and totally fascinating. Also contains some great full page ads from the 1930`s when it was originally published - amusing to think they were still advertising electricity as a product back then...
Card covers, 95 pages.
Contents: WORCESTERSHIRE PHRASES (...Cure your bacon when the moon is waxing. On Candlemas Daie You must halfe your straw and halfe your haie When the cuckoo comes to the bare thorn, Sell your cow and buy your corn.) WORCESTERSHIRE WORDS (...Pishty ... Dog ...Mawkin... Scarecrow ...Unt... a Mole.) WORCESTERSHIRE FIELD NAMES (Poppies Parlor Crab Tree Leys Puck`s Close) WORCESTERSHIRE SUPERSTITIONS (Now the raven`s nest is bare The Mansion long shall want an heir Until the tree has had its day The spell shall never pass away) WORCESTERSHIRE PROVERBS AND CUSTOMS (A man had better ne`er been born Than have his nails on Sunday shorn) WORCESTERSHIRE GAMES (Catch and Kill A piece of ground marked off as the den and one boy chosen as `Daddy` the game would begin by the others running across to the other side. If the Daddy caught anyone,the catch did not not count unless the victim said `Catch and kill` and the Daddy would use all sorts of devices and methods of compulsion to make him do this. When this was accomplished the boy caught would help the Daddy and catch the others. It often developed into a very rough game...)? PART II OLD WORCESTERSHIRE RECIPES AND ANCIENT REMEDIES RECIPES: TO SPICE BEEF TO CURE HAMS TO PICKLE WHITE MUSHROOMS TO MAKE BAKING POWDER SAUCE FOR COLD MEAT SWEET POT HERB MIXTURE CANDIED PEEL SCRIPTURE CAKE A CORDIAL MADE OF VIOLETS CONTINUATE OF QUINCES QUINCE MARMALADE POTPOURRI AN OLD RECIPE FOR SMELLING SALTS AN EXCELLENT HAIR TONIC MOTH DESTROYER SOAP CURES: WHITE MIXTURE FOR INDIGESTION GREEN OLIS FOR BRUISES SPRAINS AND RHEUMATISM EVAPORATING LOTION FOR SPRAINED ANKLE HERB TEAS TANSY TEA COLTSFOOT TEA FOR COLDS OLD ENGLISH TEA FOR WHOOPING COUGH ELDERFLOWER OINTMENT FOR COLDS, INFLAMMATION, ETC FURTHER OLD RECIPES AND REMEDIES: CAUDLE TO MAKE GRAVY SALLAD DRESSING APPLE CAKE LIGHT BISCUITS PRESERVE MADE WITH PERRY COWSLIP PUDDING TO KEEP GREEN PEAS, BEANS AND FRUIT GOOD TILL CHRISTMAS TO ROAST A SWAN TO SOUSE A PIGG TO USQUEBAUGH NOTHING VIPER BROTH STUFFED CHINE FOR A GOOD TEMPER THE BEST SANDWICH OF ALL REMEDIES: REMEDY FOR TOOTHACHE A CURE FOR A COLD WARTS CANCER TOTHACHE EARACHE RUB OINTMENT FOR SORES FOR BROKEN CHILBLAINS FOR DROPSY SMETTLE OINTMENT CURE FOR WHOOPING COUGH FOR A SPECK IN THE EYE TO DRAW A WATERING FROM THE EYE TO CURE FITTS WALNUT WATER FOR THE AGUE CELANDINE HEADACHE FOR THE BITE OF A MAD DOG STOMACH PLASTER FOR A COUGH TO CURE NETTLE RASH THE HANLEY COURT RECIPES: TO MAKE WIGS AN ALMOND PUDDING AN EXCELLENT OATMEAL PUDDING A RICE OR MILLET PUDDING AN EGG PYE LEMON CREAM TO MAKE A CAKE TO HAVE COLORS TO MAKE MARMALAD OF CHERRIES AND COURRANDS TO IMPROVE CYDER AND MAKE IT PERFECTLY FINE TO PICKLE CUCUMBERS TO POT SEVERN SALMON A RAGOUT OF SWEETBREADS A GREEN GOOSE PYE CURES: FOR THE SCURVEY TO CURE A COUGH BALSOM FOR A CONSUMTION WORCESTERSHIRE DISHES OF TODAY A VEGETABLE SUPPER DISH CAULIFLOWER CAKE TOMATO RICE-CHEESE RICE AND EGG PIE STEWED LEG OF BEEF BROWN BEAN STEW STEWED OX-CHEEK POTATOES SUPRISES POTATO PIE OMELET WITH POTATOES APPLES IN CUSTARD APPLES MERINGUED APPLE FLAN APPLE WHIP APPLE AND CELERY SALAD ***** A fascinating piece of history.