Sharing The Plough Stories
Tom Hickathrift
There are a number of themes obvious in Fenland and East Anglian Story. There are many that have legends attached to places, the most obvious being Tom Hickathrift. Some think that this could be very ancient, perhaps as much as 2 thousand years, although the best-known stories about Tom are probably only one thousand years old. Listen to Gordon Phillips telling the story, sat next to the Hickathrift gravestone in Tilney All Saints Church.
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Mucky Porter
Another important theme in many stories is that of the fenlander triumphing in adversity. The story of Mucky Porter shows this well through:
The fellowship of the fenlanders symbolised by the grey goose feather. We know that the feather was still in existence as a badge of belonging up to about 100 years ago from what we have been told in different parts of the fen. The ability of the fenlander to find ways of getting their come uppance over those in authority, shown by Mucky getting the two thoroughbred horses as well as the bag of gold. And, of course, eventually the land in the Methwold Severals, still farmed by a Porter. Listen to children from Swaffham Prior School tell the story from the land around where Mucky lived. |
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The third aspect of story evident in the fens is the taking of a well-known tale and transforming it with locality. Cape of Rushes, Tom Tit Tot and further into Norfolk The Pedlar of Swaffham are the local versions of Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin and Dick Whittington.
Cape Of RushesHear Gordon tell the story "Cape of Rushes"
Tom Tit TotHear Gordon tell the story "Tom Tit Tot"
Black SheetHear Gordon tell the story "Black Sheet"
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