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Maypole Hospitality in 1905

From the Barwicker No.102
June 2011



Just over a hundred years ago, there was a community of artists who rented a double cottage in Barwick, for their use at weekends and holidays, which they named "The Attic Abode". They had an impact on the village and continued to rent the cottage for over a decade. They joined in village life and took part in the maypole celebrations with enthusiasm, and being young and bold they were not averse to playing the odd prank. This is an account of one such prank which was played not on the villagers but on the visitors to the Maypole Raising of 1905.

The cottage stood on Main Street opposite what is now Jack Heap's Field which for modern Maypole Raisings is used as the car park. Being one of the first dwellings the public encountered when reaching the village by road from Garforth or Leeds, the cottage was well placed to cater for those who arrived in need of refreshments. A large notice was displayed at the first window of the Abode which said:

REFRESHMENTS NOT SOLD HERE.
SEE OTHER WINDOW

At the next window was another notice with the following information:

NOR ERE NAWTHER


According to the account of this prank, it was taken in good humour by those whose curiosity led them to fall for the joke except for one person, described as a "truculent tripper" , who asked gruffly "D' yo' mak' tea 'ere?".

In response, a resident, who at that moment was buttering his teacake said "Oh, yes but nobbut for oorsens".





The outside of the Attic Abode

Interior of the Attic Abode




HAROLD SMITH


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