Hands on Glanville’s tomb at Wotton

2 February · Wotton, Surrey

No longer kept

Each year on the anniversary of William Glanville’s death, five poor boys of Wotton earned forty shillings by kneeling with their hands on his tomb behind the church and reciting the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Commandments. They also had to repeat part of the fifteenth chapter of Corinthians and write out two of its verses in a legible hand. Glanville, a clerk of the Treasury who died in 1717, left the bequest in his will, and Hone’s correspondent J. F. R. described it in 1831 as paid then or within memory.

forty shillings, in accordance to his last will, are or were paid to five poor boys of Wotton, upon condition that they should, with their hands laid on his tomb, reverently repeat the Apostle's creed

From Hone's Year Book, col. 946. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

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The Candlemas crown at St Andrews grammar school No longer kept FifeAt the grammar school of St Andrews the boys gave the master a Candlemas gift according to their rank and means, from five shillings up to five guineas, and competed keenly for the Candlemas crown.
The judges’ dance round the coal fire No longer kept LondonOn Candlemas Day the judges and serjeants feasting in the Temple hall kept an ancient custom of dancing round the coal fire while singing an old French song.
A berry left in the pew at Candlemas Lore and belief SuffolkIf a leaf or berry of the Christmas greenery was left in church after Candlemas, the family sitting in that pew would see a death within the year.
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Christmas cheer kept till Candlemas No longer kept EnglandMost ordinary people kept Christmas going not just for the twelve days but until Candlemas, feasting all the while and proud to have some of their Christmas fare still in hand.
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Beans in the Candlemas waddle Lore and belief SomersetRay's Collection of Proverbs has a Somerset rule for Candlemas: sow or set beans on Candlemas waddle.
The Candlemas Candle at Lyme Regis No longer kept DorsetA Dorset gentleman told Hone of a household custom he remembered from boyhood at Lyme Regis.
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Fair Maid of February Lore and belief EnglandCountry people tied certain flowers to the saints whose days fell when they came into bloom.
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If Candlemas Day Be Dry and Fair Lore and belief England, ScotlandChambers found a belief all over Christendom that fine weather at Candlemas meant a long winter and a poor harvest, while a wet and stormy Candlemas was a good omen.
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Hands on Glanville’s tomb at Wotton

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