Jack in the Green in the Thames Valley

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May Day 1836	Chimney Sweepers on May Day 1826

George Cruikshank's picture from "The First of May" by Charles Dickens	From Hone's Book of Days

Formerly a pleasant character dressed out with ribands and flowers figured in village May-games under the name of Jack-o'-the Green. The Jack-o'-the Greens would sometimes come into the suburbs of London and amuse the residents by rustic dancing. The last of them that I remember were at the Paddington May-dance, near the "Yorkshire Stingo" about 20 years ago from whence as I have heard they diverged to Bayswater, Kentish Town and adjoining neighbourhoods. A Jack-o'- the Green always carried a long walking stick with floral wreaths; he whisked it about in the dance and afterwards walked with it in high estate like a lord mayor's footman. (Hone 1827)

They, however, still maintain the representation of Jack-in-the-green, which is supposed to be for the benefit of the sweeping fraternity. A master sweep often employs persons to parade and dance in the streets, pays all the costs and receives all the benefits. As chief clown on these occasions, Caney, whose biography will be found in another chapter, often officiated. The green which he accompanied was made of large cooper's hoops joined together by eight poles or standards, as they are called. Glazed calico, garlands of leaves, and rosettes, covered this rough framework. But to dance inside so cumbersome a contrivance is no easy matter. Coal-heavers or persons accustomed to heavy work are generally employed; they are stripped of nearly all their clothes, receive unlimited libations of beer and 3 shillings and 6 pence per day. (Street Life of London: Adolphe Smith: 1877)

London	.	London	.
TQ1649	Dorking	1878 May-day was observed much more merrily fifty years ago than now. Then there was "Jack-in-the-Green" surrounded by washed faced and gaily decorated sweeps, who to the sound of hoe and shovel, danced round the whirling "Jack" in their merriest mood. 1884 the first of May has lost its "Jack-in-the-Green" who was clad in leaves and flowers, and seemed to represent the gaiety of the spring by his animation and dance.	.
TQ1781	Ealing	1923 Crowning of a May Queen, maypole dancing and procession of floats and band led by Jack-in-the-Green 1971 May Day festivities and Jack-in-the-Green at Brentham, North Ealing.	.
TQ1874	Richmond	1893 I saw a Jack in the Green in Richmond, Surrey at Easter 1893. As far as I can remember, his cage was covered with yew trimmings. His arms were inside it and he looked out through a round hole. He was accompanied by a girl, whom a bystander described as "a Maid Marian", and by a man with a pipe to whose music Jack in the Green and Maid Marian danced while a boy collected pennies. (letter to the Times 6 May 1930)	.
TQ1869	Kingston	1860 One Old Kingstonian, who is now nearly eighty, remembers when as a boy he and seven others, with "Jack in Green" and a piper who also beat a drum, dressed themselves up and "went about the town 'gigging' on May Day" . They went from house to house and did simple traditional dances which he learnt from the others, and they sang: "The first of May is Gala Day, Give us a penny and we'll go away" 1911 Coronation festivities in which a Jack-in-the-Green took part	.
TQ2077	Chiswick	1894 The first of May has for many years been regarded as a sort of unauthorised Bank Holiday for the chimney sweeping fraternity and judging from the number of Jacks-in-the-Green to be met with in Chiswick it would appear that the old custom is not likely to die out yet (Middlesex County Times 5 May) 1896 On Saturday night a Jack-in-the-Green accompanied by a barrel organ, was about the streets (Chiswick Times 8 May)	.
TQ2480	Notting Hill	1870s Another custom survived here well on in the 70s. This was "Jack in the Green", attended by a group of sweeps dressed up as clowns or as girls, who danced and played and begged from the passer-by. (The Jack is recorded as late as 1890)	.
TQ2569	Merton	1887 It was on May Day 1887 that I saw Jack in the Green with his following of Robin Hood and his merry men going through the age old ritual of folk dance and mime on this spot.	.
TQ2764	Carsholton	May Day was celebrated until quite late in the century with the traditional country festivities. ... and the group had at its centre a "Jack-in-the-Green"	.
TQ2875	Clapham	1887 I can just remember seeing , as a very small boy indeed, a Jack-in-the-Green dancing in the middle of the road in Old Town, Clapham.	.
TQ2673	Wandsworth	1890 One Mayday Jack-in-the-Green bounded in to beg a penny, showing white teeth, white eyes, black face, but the rest of him covered and rippling with green leaves.	.
TQ2677	Chelsea	1875 About 55 years agao I looked down with joy through my barred nursery window at Jack-in-the-Green, in his laurel covered tower with attendant chimney-sweeps dressed in gay paper costumes, dancing down Chesham Street on May Day. (Letter to Times 30 May 1930) Mrs E. Jessop recalled the Jack as frightening. They had bags on the ends of poles and pushed these in at upper windows of banged on windows peering in. There was some idea that small boys were lifted up and put into the top of the Jack. if they could go in they were kidnapped as climbing boys. Careful parents kept their children in-doors.	.
TQ2681	Paddington	I once saw a jack in the Green coming down Chilworth Street, about the size of a telephone box with a man inside covered with greenery, with others dancing or rather trotting around.	.
TQ2683	St.John's Wood	1870s/80s A friend of mine who as a child lived in St. Johns wood remembers May Day processions and a Jack-in-the-Green in that neighbourhood.	.
TQ2771	Tooting	1820 This Jack in the Bush is a comical sight, but I am sorry to say that it does harm by frightening horses ...	.
TQ2778	Kensington	1913 .... Mother said they were sweeps on their May Day outing. Then came the ring of dancers. I think it was four sweeps and if I remember rightly they had shiny top hats. It may be that they were wearing green garlands around the hats (I may have a false memory from Grannie singing "All around my hat I wore a wreath of willow...") but yet I have a faint memory picture of hats. In the middle was the Green Man. It was a cage of greenery with two black boots, gyrating and skipping in an odd little way. I was frightened ...	.
TQ2783	Primrose Hill	1895 May-day customs have nearly died out, but the editor saw a Jack-in-the-Green with men dressed as milk maids dancing round it on May 1st in one of the streets near Primrose Hill	.
TQ2880	Westminster	1840 I remember well May-day as celebrated by the small remnant of melancholy mummers going about the London streets ... and Jack in the Green himself who danced about within a bower of green leaves which he supported on his shoulders with only his legs from below the knee visible, while his face could just be seen through a small hole, peering like an owl in an ivy bush.	.
TQ2881	St. Marylebone	1829-30 Punch or May Day painted by Benjamin R Haydon (Tate Gallery) 1837-47 Anonymous oil painting of Jack-in-the-Green in Upper Lisson Street (Museum of London) 1851 A May Day group outside Montagu House, nPortman Square Drawing by T. Hosmer Shepherd (British Museum) 1856 I have a perfect recollection of seeing about the year 1856 a Jack-in-the-Green in Harley-mews. Jack was inside a structure shaped something like a beehive covered with ivy, but of course much higher and proportionately less in diameter. Jack danced about while a friend held a corn sieve in which passers-by placed a coin 1890 I have a distinct recollection as a very small boy of having seen - and been much frightened by - a Jack in the Green	.
TQ2980	Picadilly	1850 "May Day celebrations of chimney sweepers of London at Piccadilly Circus" Watercolour by Thomas Sevestre (V&A Museum ) 1905 On 1 May 1905 I saw them dancing in Half-Moon Street Picadilly; probably the last Jack-in-Green to be seen in London	.
TQ2985	Kentish Town	1860s Wonder ran loose on many occasions, more particularly at the first glimpse of the gyrations of Jack in the Green and his sooty companions; and why the short-skirted lady should solicit coppers with a gravy-spoon was a mystery never satisfactorily settled.	.
TQ3080	Trafalgar Square	1860s On May Days Jack-in-the-green and his rowdy train careered about the town from early morning until late in the afternoon. I have seen Jack arrayed in all his green glory dancing and frolicking along the Strand on the chimney sweeps holiday, celebrated with full honours in Trafalgar Square. And there were no lions at the base of Nelson's column then.	.
TQ3080	Whitehall	1860 Tuesday 1 May ... One or two Jacks in the Green appeared in Whitehall Place. One very good one; two clowns, a man or two in laced velvet coats and cocked hats, and a tall stout girl dressed as a shepherdess, dancing to a drum and fifes round the Green - 1870 Today in Whitehall, I saw a May Day band of chimney sweepers: Jack in the Green amidst.	.
TQ3177	Kennington Oval	1893 photograph Paul Martin (V&A Museum) "Jack in the Green at Kennington Oval"	.
TQ3280	Borough	1923 I had the good fortune to see a Jack-in-the-Green performance as lately as 1923 in a most unlikely spot - St. Thomas's Street, Borough SE1 Attracted by the laughing of an excited crowd, I looked down from the windows of Messrs Down Brothers, surgical instrument manufacturers, opposit Guy's Hospital entrance, to see a man enclosed in an openwork cage of greenery dancing upon the road, accompanied by a girl in fancy dress, money being collected in a sieve. My elder brother called some staff to see the sight, remarking that he had not seen a Jack-in-the-Green for more than thirty years, having last seen one in oxford when a child. (letter to The Times 7 May 1930)	.
TQ3365	Croydon	1850s On May-day there was a good deal of fun going on in the earley part of the day. There were prcessions of Jack in the Green, a kind of walking arbour, with an openingin the leaves just sufficiently large t for the bearer to see where he was going, accompanied by a troop of men dressed as sweeps, and girls in short petticoats as shepherdesses, many carrying ladles to collect coppers. There were also certain clowns who were masked and had full licence to play tricks on the audience. 1887 Jack-in-the-Green has gone from our midst, and Chimney sweepers' Day is only a memory. (Croydon Advertiser 7 May)	.
TQ3376	Camberwell	1860 A lusty sweep - for strength and endurance were necessary for the due performance of the part - covered himself down to the boots with a circular wicker frame of bee-hive contour, carried on the shoulders and terminating in a dome or pinnacle above his head. This frame was entirely concealed by green boughs and flowers, May blossoms preponderating if the season was propitious. A small window gave egress to his gaze but was not very obvious from without, and one seldom caught a glimpse of the perspiring counteneance within. 1890 Jack-in-the-Green This was esentially a sweeps benefit usually held on the first of May...	.
TQ3575	Peckham	1880s Further up towards Peckham Common lived the sweep and on May Day he kept up all the old customs. The May Queen was elected and the May Pole was put up on his front ground, and she and her maids of honour wound the gay ribbons in and out ... The sweep himself as Jack-in-the-Green hidden in a wicker frame woven with laurel leaves and a small hole so that he could just see his way, would walk along surrounded by a lot of boys collecting pennies.	.
TQ3579	Bermondsey	1900 One of the favourite stunts of Bermondsey sweeps for raising money they performed every May day, or the first day of May, and it was quite a show. Walking along Jamaica Road I saw what looked like a big bush hopping from one side of the street to the other and bobbiing up and down, and alongside there were three sweeps dancing. This being the first time I had seen a Jack-in-the-Green it scared the life out of me. Inside the tepee-like dome made with a frame of light canes completely covered covered with green leaves, was one of the sweeps who held the frame over him with two handles on the inside, he had peepholes through which he could see, but his whole body was hidden except for his feet. As they went dancing along the sweeps held out their caps collecting pennies, halfpennies and farthings.	.
TQ3674	Lewisham	1892 The now unusual sight of Jack-in-the-Green with his fantastically and lightly attired attendants was to be seen in the streets of Lewisham on Monday (Kentish Mercury 6 May) 1894 The Jack was a bottle-shaped case covered with ivy leaves and surmounted by a crown of paper roses. 1903 Photograph by George Collis of May Day in Lewisham High Street	.
TQ3676	Deptford	1900 photograph by Thankfull Sturdee (1852-1934) captioned "An Old May-Day Custom" Deptford Library, Borough of Lewisham. 1906 it is not more than three or four years since such a band were seen in the streets of Deptford. Jack in his greenery, twirling ... 1983 Mo Johnson made a Jack-in-the-Green in the back garden of the Dog and Duck, taking his model from Thankful Sturdee's photograph ... this has continued ever since.	.
TQ3681	Limehouse	1900 I remember May Day processions, where I saw probably the last Green Man, survivor of Merrie Olde England, all covered in spring leaves.	.
TQ3779	Millwall	1913 (or 14) I remember on May Day seeing in Millwall "Jack-in-the-Green" with a dancing bear. The bear was obviously a man in a costume who capered about to the tune of a violin and Jack was in a wire cage completely covered in green leaves and green cloth or strips of paper. (Folklore society Archives)	.
TQ3788	Walthamstow	1892-93 About this time, 1st may 1892-3 a man dressed as a Jack of the Green, his garb consisted of a cone shaped wicker basket shaped like an old fashioned dress stand covered with laurel leaves, and reaching to within an inch of the ground with a slit left in it to enable him to see.	.
TQ4068	Bromley	1907 The first Bromley and Hayes May Queen Festival was held on 4 May 1907. Master Edward Leblond was Jack-in-the-Green.	.
TQ4086	Wanstead Flats	1983 A revival Jack was made by Mick Skrzytiec, taken round the locality and then brought up to Liverpool Street and to the City of London. This is now a continuing and living tradition.	.
TQ4077	Greenwich	1910 Early in the morning on his way to school Mr Wellard saw the Jack with four or five attendants. 1913 In Greenwich Park children provided a pretty pageant under the auspices of the Merry England Society ...even a Jack in the Green. 2006 Greenwich Old Royal Naval College May Fayre: A modern day equivalent of Jack in the Green in the guise of a Green Man on Stilts shown opposite. >
TQ4767	St. Mary Cray	1889 May Day Fete: Revival of Old Custom: Jack-in-the Green came second in the procession, immediately followed by Sweep and Clowns. Three to four thousand people attended the fete. (Dartford Express 4 May) 1893 after this the event was not held again "because of the unmanageable crowds that came by railway."	.
TQ5474	Dartford	1883 The 1st of May was welcomed in Dartford by exhibitions of elegant floral devices, "Jacks in the green" and other emblematic contrivances (Dartford Chronicle 5 May)	.
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Herts	.	Hertfordshire	.
TL1507	St. Albans	1872 May 1st A great many boys absent today. They are looking at the chimney sweeps who are out maying (School log book)	.
TL3614	Ware	1890s: Old customs lingered in the town with a tenacious vitality: May Day would nothave been May-Day without the sweeps - "my lord" in a cocked hat and a suit of the sweeps, "my lady" in white muslin and spangles, with a brass ladle to collect the offerings of the public in. "Jack-in-the-Green", a locomotive mass of foliage with his black face shining through an aperture in the leaves, while a clown, two "innocent blacknesses" in th shape of climbing boys, and a drummer who also played upon the pan-pipes, completed the wandering company, the members of which sang and danced and kept alive in the nineteenth century the Floralia instituted among us by out Roman conquerors.	.
TL4319	Much Hadham	1896: I remember seeing the Jack in the Green at Hadham, Hertfordshire, forty years ago - I think the party came from Hertford.	.
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Windsor	.	Windsor Forest	.
SU7272	Reading	1830: May Day was the one day of happiness in the sad year for the poor chimney-sweeps, children of misery, parish orphans for the most part, but seldom kidnapped for that most cruel trade. They came fantastically arrayed in rags of many colours and danced round a portable bower with a boy in it, clattering their shovels and brooms. (G. Smith, Reminiscences)	.
SU8785	Cookham Dean	Before 1951 May Day brought the Children's Garland also Jack o' the Green. (The Berkshire Book 1951)	.
SU8446	Farnham	1860s On that same morning the chimney sweeps came round, gathering largess. A wonder it was to see that their oddly familiar faces, usually sooty, were really much the same colour as other people's. Their voices proved who they were, as they sang and danced, clattering their hand-brushes against wooden shovels ...	.
SU8573	Farnborough	Before 1922: Jack-in-the-Green being the village sweep enclosed in a portable framework of green boughs, used to figure in the Farnborough May Day festivities, but we never see him now, he evidently could not survive the passing of the May Day happiness of the children. (Jottings from a Farnborough Notebook: J. Challacombe 1922)	.
SU8587	Marlow	1886: Chimney sweeps, adorned with gay-coloured ribbons and Jack-in-the-Green, have not put in an appearance for some years. (Bucks Herald 8 May) 1890: This time-honoured festival ... when Jack-in-the-Green with troops of gaily bedecked chimney-sweeps paraded the town ... seems rapidly falling into insignificance, if not forgetfulness. (South Bucks Free Press 2 May)	.
SU8593	High Wycombe	1887: The most elaborate attempt to give a reception to Flora was that made by Jack-in-the-Green, who was accompanied by a number of dancers in costume and music. This old survival of a bygone age was the subject of considerable interest and amusement. (Bucks Herald 7 May)	.
TQ0049	Guildford	1853 J. Loveland: Chimney Sweeper: Handbill warning people not to give money to parties parading the streets and using his name. 1976 At Guildford the Pilgrim Morris, a club who were feeling the need to do something different, took advantage in 1976 of the fact that the first of May fell on a Saturday. The day began with morris at dawn on St. Martha's Hill where Good Friday dancing had taken place in the nineteenth century. The celebration which followed during the day took its inspiration from other local starting points, ranging from Summer Kings and Sword-bearers to morris dancing, and from the Summer Pole to the Jack-in-the-Green ... 2009 Picture (right >) Jack in the Green during the Summer Pole celebrations.
TQ0466	Chertsey	1871 May Day was duly celebrated in Chertsey, the streets being filled with children carrying May poles, "Jack-in-the-Greens" etc.	.
TQ0583	Uxbridge	c1850 On the 1st of May, if passing down the street, you will hear the thumping of a big drum, the squeaking of a couple of fiddles, and the clattering of shovels and scrapers - the group consists of Bagley's Sweeps and climbing boys ... dancing around "Jack-in-the-Green" a moving pyramid of laurel and other green stuff.	.
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Chilterns	.	Chiltern Hills	.
SU7394	Wormsley Park	1840: The Wormsley Tournament. This much-talked of and amusing fete, ... created more general interest throughout this and the neighbouring counties than anything that has taken place for many years. The Procession ... Knight's Banner, Black Knight: R Wright Esq., Black armour with Jim Crow on helmet and shield, Esquire, Mr Maberley in suitable costume, Retainers "Jack in the Green" with his Companions and Musicians.	.
SU5999	Chislehampton	1895 Revival of an Old Custom: On the 8th, the custom of May day was celebrated on the lines of former times ... John Osbourne made a first rate Jack-in-the-Green; Harry Stilgoe looked well as Robin Hood.	.
SP7006	Thame	Before 1880: It is true, however there were one or two tastily arranged wreaths (that is, amongst the children's garland) which doubtless brought back to the minds of many what garlands used to be in Thame on May-days in the years that are gone, when "Jack-in-the-Green" and his attendant train bore a conspicuous part in the day's proceedings. (Jackson's Oxford Journal 8 May)	.
SP7627	Winslow	1879: On these occasions the sweeps of the neighbourhood adorn themselves with innumerable small strips of paper-hangings, and other gaudy tints, travelling through the town and surrounding villages and endeavouring to create a merry humour by stepping and tumbling and unrestrained gig, fantastically accompanied by a series of unceremonial bangs on their sounding shovels, making a grotesque appearance which serves the purpose of a laugh. 1882: The old fashioned practice of parading the streets with bunches of flowers on May Day does not seem likely to die out in Winslow, the number on Monday last being larger than usual. The sweeps too, made their customary display.	.
SP8213	Aylesbury	1846 May day. This anniversary was on Friday observed here with all its usual grotesque masqueradings. Some unlucky wight had nearly put an end to the amusements of one of the companies. The Jack-in-the-Green, or the green in which Jack would have figured, was, on the eve of the anniversary left out of doors to enjoy the evening breeze and the the exhilarating effects of the early dew. It had however disapeared in the night, much to the chagrin of its owners, who after various searchings discovered it suspended from a high tree in a neighbouring field, and by no means improved by its transportation. (Jacksons Oxford Journal 9 May) 1849: Tuesday last being the 1st of May, the chimney sweeps of this town paraded the various streets in their holiday attire, dancing most merrily around the "may pole" and collecting half pence from the inhabitants. ...about three oclock in the afternoon two of the establishments met near the railway station and a very few minutes had elapsed before the whole neighbourhood was in an uproarious state, for it was expected that a regular pitch battle would be fought between them. The "Jacks" were soon out of their greens, which were thrown on one side as valueless and said all that was possible to uphold the character and "respectability" of their different employers ... Jack in the green features in reports for many of the years up until: 1899: The sweeps did not put in an appearance (Bucks Herald 6 May) Garlanding, however,continued until at least 1915	.
SP8710	Halton	1910 On Monday evening a number of Halton men gave a May Day Demonstration, the proceeds being in aid of the Royal Bucks Hospital. A Jack-in-the-Green was splendidly decorated with evergreens and flowers, and with electric lights.	.
SP9007	Berkhamstead	1882 May Day was duly observed by the customary small but numerous garland parties and the perambulatory performances of two or three Jack-in-the-Green parties whose glory and success seems to have departed. 1908 I remember a Jack-in-the-Green I had seen when I was four years old, quite covered except for his face in leaves, wearing a kind of diving suit of leaves and twirling round and round at a country cross-roads, far from any village, with only a little knot of attendants and a few bicyclists to watch him (Graham Green; Journey Without Maps p92)	.
SP9211	Tring	1911 The old customs connected with May Day have not yet died out in Tring. On Monday bands of youngsters, in grotesque garbs, and with their faces blacked, paraded the town and performed a not very graceful Maypole dance, to the accompaniment of "tin can" music. (Bucks Herald 6 May)	.
SP9214	Marsworth	? Sweeps come a-dancing all May-day/Maypole, Maypole, Maypole day. (Marsworth May Song)	.
SU9597	Amersham	1890 Messrs John Summerlin and Sons, the celebrated sweep monopolists of Amersham put in an appearance in full regalia, with "Jack-in-the-Green" a character ably sustained by Mr Stratford. Dancing round "Jack" was indulged by the members of the company to the melodious strains of a tin whistle artfully concealed in the spout of a coffee pot, accompanied by tambourines, and the shovel and brush. (South Bucks Free Press 9 May)	.
SP9601	Chesham	1890 see Amersham above	.
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KennetE	.	Kennet East	.
SU4666	Newbury	After the First World War until the early Twenties at least, the children of the city in Newbury went sooty-bobbing on May Day. This was a door-to-door begging operation, involving black-face, fancy dress disguise (including a sweep's impersonation complete with brushes), a verse sung at each door, and a concluding maypole dance with consequent share out of the loot. First of May, sooty-bob day Give me a penny and send me away, All round me hat I wear a ring o' roses, All round me hat.	.
SU4250	St. Mary Bourne	c1838 The May-day rejoicings at that time had dwindled down to a band of half-washed chimney-sweeps decorated with coloured papers and ribbons, who danced round a walking bower, which enclosed a female of their order, the representative probably of Maid Marian of the olden times. They extracted what music could be elicited from the contact of shovels and brushes.	.
SU1541	Amesbury	Undated: When I was a child ... on May 1st the May Queen used to dance for the Chimney Sweep	.
SU4346	Hurstbourne Priors	Undated: The chimney sweeps came round in companies, disguised in many ways, their dresses usually decorated with gilt paper and other fineries. They had their shovels and brushes in their hands, which they rattled one upon the other. To this rough music they danced round Jack in the Green, which was one of their number dressed up as a tree, and made merry with the bystanders.	.
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Oxford	.	Oxfordshire	.
SP2512	Burford	1854 Our neighbour Smith with his staff enlivened the town and neighbourhood by their annual perambulating with the green, music, dancing, etc. ushering in this joyous month. (Banbury Guardian: 11 May 1854) No morris dancing at Burford though they used to dance around Jack and the Green with handkerchiefs and bells etc. (Cecil Sharp)	.
SP2540	Shipston-on-Stour	1860's (Mr. Hands, Blacksmith:) The dances lasted a week from Monday May 1st to the following Saturday. Danced by men of different trades, shoemakers, sweeps, tailors, blacksmiths etc. The Maypole itself was the usual Jack in the Green with hoops at the top and a T or cross, all covered in greenery and flowers. The dancers wore knee breeches, stockings and pads of bells on their shins like Morris men. They carried withy-sticks, 2 feet long and jigged about, clapped hands, changed sides etc. The head man talked a lot and made fun with the crowd; very sharp in his answers. The dancers wore shirts covered with ribbons, rosettes etc. They numbered 9 or 10. Slept out at night under hedge or wherever they could. A pony-cart accompanied the dancers to carry the Maypole when going from village to village. Maypole very heavy. There were usually 3 or 4 sweeps "as black as Newgate" None of the others had any distinctive marks of their trade. Music supplied by a man with fiddle and another with tambourine. (Mrs S:) Any number of Maypoles carried about the town during May week, all of the usual garland type except one just described. All the dancers round the latter were sweeps. Wore top hats decorated with ribbons and flowers. Think there was a doll placed in the middle of the hoops at the top of Jack. The dance stopped about 45 years ago. The beaver hats worn by the dancers were made in Shipston. (Mr B. a sweep:) All the dancers were sweeps. They ended up in the Market Square on the Saturday afternoon. No special way of begining on May 1st. The "Sharp man" was a clown who carried a stick with a calf's tail and bladder; also a brass ladle for collecting. Doll on top of the pole. Jigged about according to the tune. accompanied by a man dressed up like a woman "Used to reckon she were a she-male but she warn't!" 16 or 17 of them together All danced round in a ring round the Jack "who shook himself a bit" and clapped hands. No regular figures.	.
SP3103	Bampton	1850 On May Day the Lord and Lady were accompanied by a Jack-in-the-Green.	.
SP3509	Witney	1875 A revival of May-day was made this year amongst the sweeps whose performances gave much amusement to the children. 1938 Witney still has its Jack-in-the-Green (Old English Customs and Ceremonies: FJ Drake-Carnell)	.
SP4235	Bloxham	1883 The May Day festivities were held on Tuesday, and were carried out in the true old English fashion, the majority of the children in the village taking part in it. There was a parade around the village with , lastly Jack-in-the-Green, thoroughly obscured with evergreens, riding upon an ass. (Banbury Guardian 10 May) 1889 Sarah Justice was chosen Queen of the May and accompanied by about 20 maids of honour, Jack-in-the-Green, shepherd and shepherdesses, and a jester, the children escorted their queen round the village, a crimson canopy and a handsome May garland being provided. (Jackson's Oxford Journal 4 May) 1890, 1892 & 1893. 1898 Owing to one cause or another the May Day treat for the school children has not been given for several years past. yhis year the matter was taken up by several ladies in the parish for a renewal of the treat (Banbury guardian 5 May)	.
SP4540	Banbury	1852 Groups of big and little sweeps, bedizened with characteristic finery, danced round the maypole to the sound of fiddle and fife, and made their collections for the purpose of refreshing the "inner man" after the termination of the out-door exercises. (Oxford Chronicle 8 May). 1854 May day was celebrated on Monday in the usual way. The garlands and May poles were, however, of a second-rate character, and the solitary Jack in the Green, which promenaded the town, was exceedingly meagre (Oxford Chronicle, 6 May) 1894 A relic of the good old days was the appearance of Jack in the Green, with his attendants, attired in fantastic costumes, with head gear of flowers and greenery. The party attracted consdierable attention (Bicester Herald 4 May) 1890s Many old customs ... still flourish in Victorian Banbury. On May Day Jack-in-the-Green paraded the streets as he had done for hundreds of years (Harold Scott)	.
SP4631	Deddington	1857 the school children all came with their garlands, a Maypole and a Jack of the Green and sung a May day song and danced round the Maypole - tho it rained at the time. (Rev. William C. Riseley Diary for 1 May) 1859 National and Sunday Schools. The children of these schools had their annual May Day treat on Tuesday the 3rd. The May Queen elected by the children from the infant school, seated in a carriage which was literally both bower and a couch of flowers, drawn by her six maidens suitably dressed, with chaplets of flowers on their heads, was escorted in procession round the town. First came the boys, as her trusty knights, to clear the way, carrying a number of flags and banners, then came Jack in the Green, then followed the state carriage containing the queen, backed up by a gigantic may-pole; the girls, also carrying flags and banners, brought up the rear. Whenever the procession stopped, songs and carols suitable to the season were very prettily sung by the children. (Jackson's Oxford Journal 10 May). 1860's&70's May Day treat continued. Jack mentioned once again in 1873.	.
SP5203	Iffley	1895 About May Day we generally had a Jack-in-the -Green from Oxford, who used to come and parade throught the viollage. Also with him a company ofsweeps, and maid marion, who was a man dressed in woman's attire, and another man on a hobby horse, who used to delight us with his capers (Bygone Iffley: E. Cordrey)	.
SP5305	Oxford	1828 report of chimney sweep being killed and Jack-in-the-Green injured by runaway horse and carriage. (Oxford University and City Herald 3 May) 1830 During the day, the sweeps were as usual collecting their pence through the city, accompanied by music, and decorated with flowers and garlands, which the forwrdness or spring enabled these motley masqueraders to exhibit in great profusion (Berkshire Chronicle 8 May) Many references until 1951: The Oxford University Morris Men introduced a Jack-in-the-Green into their dancing on May Morning as an appropriate addition to the occasion. .... since then there has been a consistent tradition of "dressing Jack" on May Eve, and, since 1956 of performing "The Bonny Green", Bucknell, round him as opening dance in Radcliffe Square.	.
SP5822	Bicester	1862 In addition to the young people with their May Garlands, of which several were carried round Bicester, the sweeps had a Jack-in-the-Green, accompanied with music and dancing. (Bicester Herald 2 May) 1881 The first of May falling this year on Sunday, the celebrations were observed on the following day, when at Bicester, in addition to the host of children carrying May-garlands, Jack-in-the-Green, after a quiescence of about 18 years, again made his appearance, and attended as he was by a musician playing a rudely-constructed violin, and 2 or 3 dancers, created no small amount of attention. (Bicester Herald 6 May) The first of May was celebrated in Bicester on Monday last by a jack in the Green and several of his satellites dressed in nondescript costumes, parading the principle streets to the tune of a fiddle, which seemed to attract considerable attention, more especially with the younger portion of the community (Bicester Advertiser 6 May). 1882 Jack is noted briefly in the local papers but afterwards although the garlanding continued Jack did not make an appearance.	.
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Gloucs	.	Gloucestershire	.
SO9422	Cheltenham	1830 The first of May was duly observed; the Floralia were kept with grotesque mummery, dancing and masquerading by the chimney sweepers, who wandered about collecting pence and carrying ambulatory bowers and rude garlands. (The Diary of a Cotswold Parson: rev. F. E .Witts 1783-1854) May Day used to be recognised by the sweeps of the town, who excercised a sort of prescriptive right to dress up a Jack-in-the Green (a wickerwork cage covered with ivy leaves, with a man inside to carry it), dancing round the figure in grotesque fashion and collecting pence from the small crowds which witnessed the performance. (W. E. Adams 1840's) Last mentioned in 1912: "Mr Crooke says that Jack-in-the-Green is still kept up in Cheltenham" (Cotswold Place-Lore and Customs: J. B. Partridge)	.
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National	.	Other Sites in England & Wales	.
SJ4066	Chester	The Boughton sweeps, too, on May Day, were wont to deck themselves in their holiday garb, bedizened with ribbons like morris-dancers, and so paraded the streets to the no small delight of the very young as well as the very old of the city (Chester Courant 1 May 1878)	.
SP0787	Birmingham	As late as 1843 a great band of sweeps, gaily bedizened in long robes, enlivened with coloured paper, and many of them attired in women's clothes, paraded the streets of Birmingham and other midland towns accompanied by a Jack-in-the-Green and very noisy and unskilled music. (Lady 29 April 1897)	.
SP3379	Coventry	1850 About the middle of the nineteenth century Coventry sweeps used to honour the first of May with a "Jack-a-Green". An old Coventry citizen who remembered the custom told me that "Their maypole as we used to call it, was a large cylinder of greenery, eight or ten feet in height, and probably as much in diameter. In front was a small peephole, covered with muslin, with a fancy rosette at each corner and the whole structure was decorated with bows and ends of bright local ribbons. Half-a-dozen sweeps, some dressed as females, would caper round the Jack to the music of a fiddle. They carried long wooden spoons to collect from the bystanders, and the occasional pauses for liquid refreshment made the steps of the dance grow more and more uncertain as the day progressed. The fiddler played one particular tune - a country jig of three phrases.	.
SK5904	Leicester	The May Day celebration of the sweeps in Leicester was much looked forward to, when companies of them, adorned with aprons and head-gear of coloured calico and flowers, - brush and pan in hand, and headed by a "Jack in the Green" paraded the streets and danced in a ring for coppers.	.
TL4658	Cambridge	On May Day 1891 I saw a Jack-in-the-Green in the streets of Cambridge (James Frazer, The Golden Bough) 1890s Two days before May-day a meeting to arrange the programme. The party included Jack in the Green .... They stopped going out a good many years before the war (1914). During the last few years they collected for Addenbrooke's Hospital; when there was no more street collecting for the hospital the police stopped them. He didn't know why, but thought it might have been because they frightened the horses or because Jack in the Green couldn't see where he was going.	.
TM4290	Beccles(or Bungay)	...it was in the early 20s, and May Day was the event ... In the procession that was part of the celebration several small boys, undoubtedly sons of the local sweeps, had attired themselves in ragged clothes, and covered their apparel and skins with soot. They had borrowed father's brushes and to the delight of onlooking children danced merrily.	.
SO5040	Hereford	1871 At Hereford two women were carrying a Jack in the Green about the High Town. (Kilverts Diary)	.
SP2055	Stratford-upon-Avon	1860-c1870 The writer remembers the strange dance of the chimney sweeps on May-day, probably discontinued about forty years ago. The sweeps with two of their number decked out as "Jack in the green" and "clown", the latter carrying a long spoon or ladle to thrust at passers-by with a suggestion that coppers would be acceptable, paraded the streets, singing and capering and making discordant noises to attract atention ... I am told that fifty years ago in Stratford the sweeps used to dance in the streets at various places, one being before Mr. W.O.Hunt's house in Chapel Street and the Grammar School boys were allowed to witness the performance from the windows of their schoolroom on the opposite side of the way. 1880's May Day was the only holiday the boys had, apart from Sundays. On that morning they would carry a beribboned maypole all over the town and dance around it while bystanders threw coins to them. A party would follow when they got back to the cottage.	.
SP0344	Evesham	c1860 The writer well remembers the first of May some fifty years ago. Evesham upon that day was en fete. The streets were crowded and a number of sweeps issued from the Bewdley (the part of town where they principally resided), dressed in fantastic attire made of gaily-coloured ribbons, paper etc. hats of various shapes; also carrying various instruments of their craft accompanied with a gaily decorated vehicle, in which were seated the Queen of the May and the Little Boy Sweep. (G M Stratton)	.
ST5872	Bristol	1822 May-day was celebrated this year with more than its wonted gaiety. Soon after sunrise, there was an unusually strong muster upon Clifton Down... "to sport the light fantastic toe". During the morning Kings and Queens out of number paraded the streets. The chomney sweeps, too, made a splendid appearance. 1865: A Bristol lady remembers seeing Jack-in-the-Green, with a sweep and a Queen, on the outskirts of Bristol about 1865	.
TQ7467	Rochester	Rochester Sweeps Procession c 1870: Sixty years ago it was not considered May Day if we had not seen at least three Jacks-in-the-Green and their attendants from Rochester and Chatham. 1983: An ancient Kentish tradition was revived in Rochester on Sunday (May Day) for the first time since the turn of the century ... Boughton Monchelsea Morris dancers unearthed the tradition and decided to revive it at the Castle Gardens ... The colourful procession of Morris dancers, musicians and children dressed as chimney sweeps set off along the High Street to the cheers of the crowd gathered to watch the event. The parade was completed by the traditional figure of Jack in the Green - a character clad in leaves and plants - to lead the route.	.
TR1166	Whitstable	1895 "Jack in the Green" on Fire. Quite an exciting scene was witnessed on Thursday in the High Street ... The senior of the lot, Stephen Penn was decked out as "Jack in the Green" being encased in a pyramid of evergreens with thin colour paper, surmounted by an umbrella, whilst his companions were got up in gorgeous fashion also with coloured paper. During an interval in the performance "Jack" thought he would have a pipe and proceeded to light up, but his tobacco was not the only thing he succeeded in lighting .... he was instantly enveloped in flames but fortunately his evergreens protected him ... not so his son who was wearing a costume of coloured tissue and who in his attempted to beat out the flames became ignited himself... the poor fellow was badly burnt about the neck, face and hands. Three members of the recently formed ambulance corps rendered prompt assistance, and his injuries having been dresses with cotton wool and oil, he took his departure for home. (Whitstable Times 4 May) 1977 One community which turned out in force on May 1st was Whitstable in Kent with a May Day event organised by the artists and audience of Duke's Folk, the town's folk music club ... The custom of Jack-in-the Green which we revived is not peculiar to East Kent of course but the Whitstable Jack has a bizarre and unhappy tale attached. traditionally he was the figure who accompanied by dancers representing Robin Hood and Maid Marian led the procession of other dancers and their musicians from the Horsebridge to the site of the Maypole, but in 1912 this was terminated when someone deliberately set fire to his costume, a wooden framework decorated with greenery, burning him to death. This story may have been an exageration of the original incident mentioned in 1895.	.
TR3865	Ramsgate	1850s the Jack in the Green which I remember seeing in the early fifties at Ramsgate in Kent. One occasion is particularly vivid in my recollection. I was "put in the corner" for some childish offence committed in the dame's school to which I went. My punishment was easy to bear because I was able to see from a window the Jack-in-the-Green and the maypole dancing - a sight denied the better-behaved, but less lucky scholars.	.
TR3141	Dover	1842: Farewell, then, to the holiday of the chummies, alias the gentlemen of the black fraternity, one of whose own circulars, bearing date April 29 1842 (the last doubtless issued by them), we have now lying before us. This billet-doux thus runs: "Sir, You as a member of the above profession are requested to attend in your usual May-Day Disguise, at the soot yard of Messrs Fitch, Hoadly, Mayhew and Kilsby, Mayhew Mews, Queen Street, at 10 o'clock each morning for the next week, to professionally Dance round the Town, Yours &c Jack Green - bring your own shovels - last year's Artificial Flowers Sold Cheap - N.B. Share after the last day."	.
TQ8009	Hastings	1848: The Shovel and broom gentry held their annual bal masque last Monday, in the streets and thoroughfares of our ancient town 1861: May Day was celebrated by the appearance of some Jack's-in-the-Green accompanied by amateur sweeps 1983: Early risers last Sunday may have caught sight of green men and a bush dancing on the West Hill. Mad Jack's Morris dancers were reviving the custom of Jack-in-the-Green	.
TQ3105	Brighton	1813 This is the first of May but the weather is so bad that none of the race of Chimney sweeps have appeared. It is a great disappointment to our poor little chimney sweeper whom Lucy had made very fine with some of my fine spangled things.	.
SU4212	Southampton	1861 May 1 Chimney sweeps paraded the town - so did the boys. Undated: He thought he remembered, as a small boy, seeing a procession in the High Street, with a man all in greenery, his face only to be seen.	.
SU2103	Burley	1852: see maypoles Burley	.
SZ0190	Poole	1852: The time-honoured observances of the 1st of May are almost extinct. There may have been some two or three floral garlands seen in the course of the day, but Jack in the Green with his concomitant troop of gaily decked chimney sweeps, which in the days of our boyhood was a source of much amusement to us, was not, though on Monday three of the fraternity with jackets coated over with ribbons of many colours paraded the town levying contributions on such as chose to spare them a copper.	.
SX4774	Tavistock	1832: May-day is still celebrated in the West of England, though not so gaily as it used to be some years ago, when I have heard my husband say, the milkmaids of this place would borrow plate of the gentry to hang upon their milk-pails, intermixed with bunches of riband and crowns of flowers. It is, I believe, universally allowed that no custom has a higher claim to heathen antiquity, than the erection of a May-pole, garlanded with flowers, as the signal-post of mirth and rejoicing for the day. These May-poles have , I believe, of late years experienced some change: in former times they were often stationary; now, we generally see only the verdant pyramid crowned with flowers. This pyramid joins the procession, and sometimes even the dance; it receives its motion from having concealed within it a good stout fellow; strong and tall enough to perform the part for the day. Jack in the Bush is his name; and he has existed (so I am told) as long as the May-pole itself. (Anna Eliza Bray: letter 9 June 1832)	.
SX4755	Plymouth	1881: The chimney sweeps of Plymouth used, also, to go about dressed up, and dance around a large May Coop covered with evergreens, a man being inside. The sweeps used to carry their brushes and tools, and rattle them up to strains of the music discoursed by the band that went with them. I think I remember that there were rival parties of sweeps. (S.V.Bird Western Antiquary 1881)	.
TL2796	Whittlesey	Straw Bear Day and Festival : January. A figure similar to Jack in the Green but made out of straw. Jack probably represents Summer and the Straw Man Winter
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.	.	International Perspective	.
Germany	Ausburgh	Jack in the Green and Straw Man "Das Sommerspiel in der Pfalz" by C Roux 1865 Mothering Sunday (4th Sunday in Lent) is Rejoicing Day in Germany. In Ausburgh boys carry plaited bread on long sticks and 2 men dressed as Summer and Winter engage in a mock fight in which Summer wins.
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