Barnaby yea, Barnaby nay

11 June · Hell Kettles, Darlington, County Durham

Lore and belief

A farmer who led his hay on St Barnabas’s Day was said to have been swallowed up with his carts and horses in the Hell Kettles near Darlington. When a neighbour warned him against working on the saint’s day, he answered with a rhyme that he would have his hay whether God willed it or not. Denham repeated the tradition that the carts could still be seen many fathoms down on a fine day in clear water.

Barnaby yea! Barnaby nay! A cart-load of hay, whether God will or nay.

From The Denham Tracts, vol. 1, p. 79. Read the original

Get a copy: Amazon · Bookshop.org · AbeBooks

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links.

Also on this day

Folklore from the old calendars

Barnaby Bright Lore and belief EnglandBefore the calendar change of 1752, St Barnabas's Day on 11 June fell close to the summer solstice, and country people still called it the longest day.
The Glastonbury walnut tree No longer kept SomersetBesides the Holy Thorn, the abbey churchyard at Glastonbury had a miraculous walnut tree on the north side of St Joseph's chapel.
The Englewood forest court at Hesket No longer kept CumberlandEvery year on St Barnabas's Day the court for the whole Forest of Englewood was held at Hesket in Cumberland, by the side of the highway under a thorn tree.
Rose and woodruff garlands No longer kept LondonOn St Barnabas's Day the priests and clerks of English churches used to wear garlands of roses and woodruff.
Riding the Lanark marches Still kept LanarkshireLanark rode its marches every year on the day after the last Wednesday of May, old style, which fell early in June.

Barnaby yea, Barnaby nay

Also on this day

Questions and comments

Image credits