The Sheep-shearing Feast at Gedney

A correspondent at Gedney in the Lincolnshire fens wrote in July 1826 that sheep-shearing there was seldom finished before the middle of July, and sent verses written at a local farm by a Baptist preacher from Lutton. They describe the shearers drinking the health of the flock’s owner before starting work, the master sending ale round the board, and the owner smiling as he set his brand on each shorn sheep. When the flock was done the mistress laid on a feast, and the young men jumped over the board, tossed the heavy bar and wrestled. In the evening the neighbouring poor were welcomed to the table, and the ale went round until the host stopped the pitcher.