ENGLISH TOWNS' QUAINT FEASTS.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4310, 13 November 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

ENGLISH TOWNS' QUAINT FEASTS.

UckfieiJ lias just held its annual pea. supper, ;i I miction which owes its origin to a practical joke. Fifteen years '»go plot of land belonging to a resident became, on account of its neglected state, such an eyesore to his fellowtownsnnn that they took the matter into their own hands and dug it up. The owner resolved to profit by their labcur :>nd plant tho field, but"on his next visit to the spot he found, to his annoyance, that it had already Ixcii frown with peas.

Soon, however, anger gave place to amu-ement, and he laughingly told the perpetrators of the joke that they would have to oat the peas. This iii duo course they did, and from that day tlie celebration lias grown yearly in popularity. Over fifty sat down recently to a capital repast of pea.s, bacon,, and other excellent fare.

GIN, GINGERBREAD, AND OYSTERS. The Colchester oyste:- feast which has fn quired celebr.tv, is a.nnualJy preceded by another function at the opening of tho oyster season, when the corporation of the Evsex town, who are tho owners of the CoIi:-e fisheries, strain ciov, n the rivor to Bright]inge-ea, where they aiT'dgo for a few samples of the biva.ee— a mere prelude to satisfying their appetites on the hundreds that await their coming in tho packing-house at Pyefleet Crec-k. Prencus, however, to this ceremony the wortny citizens fortify themselves with a meal of gingerbread and sin. IJ 9* OUR . 1N(; SIR FRANCIS DRAKE Ihe Fishyngo Feaste" is lield every Augn&t at j. fymonth. It commemorates thfc deeds of Francis Drake, to whoso enterprise tho town owes its water supply. "To tho piou s memory of Sir Francis Drake" is first drunk 'in water from two golden goblet *, which afterwards?, refilled with wine, are emptied to th& toast "May the descendants of him who gave us water never want wine." Then after having lunched off Devonshire* patties, those present go about their several amusements until summoned t<> the feast proper, at which fried trout, caught during the afternoon in tho lake, and sucking-pig ure invariably fc^rved.

November is the month wherein Clao ton-ou-Sca holds its whiting dinner, .Then this usually tasteless fish undergoes a marvellous metamorphosis, appealing at table in dolertablo aiid un-r-rcrgi'iEablf gui&es that fully justifies, tho _ concluding toast, "Success " t:> tho »\ luting Feast and Pro'-perity to Clac-ton-on-S: a." Another seaside town, Yarmouth, boasts a t-pvat banquetwhich commences with sprat horstl oouvroj and, after ha.ving run through some- thirty courses, is broughtto a. conclusion with sprat bi-cuits BREAD, CHEESE. AND SPRING

ONIONS. Sausages and. champagne are Peterborough's speciality. Every October at Bridge Fair time the mayor and corporation proceed in solemn procession to the bridge beneath which- flows theNen. There a halt is called and the town crier declares the fair open, both in . Northamptonshire and Hnntingdonelnre. Having transacted the official business < i the day. tho mayor and liis guests adjourn to a neighbouring hotel,, where a. repast consisting of the abovementioned delicacies 'awaits them. Equally tasty although simpler far®' is that spread before the company who attend the annual auction of the WhiteBread Meadow at Bourne, the rent of winch goes to supply certain poor people \\ it-h bread. Every Easter a curious custom is observed, the auctioneer putting up the field and accepting bids only co long as a number of boys are running a race over a fixed course. The moment the hincle''most boy reaches the goal the hammer fall.s_, and the meadow i(3 knocked down to him who made the> last bid. This having been satisfactorily settled, those present sit down to a meal of bread, cheese, and spring onions.

FIGHT FOR A BOTTLE OF ALE. On Easter Monday the game of bot-tle-picking takes placo at Hallatoii. Previous to the start of play, a rough and ready meal is provided in the shape of a scramble for two large meat pies and a dozen penny loaves. Then appears upon the scene jx large wooden bottle, bound strongly with iron, and fil!ed_with ale. Over this a fierce contest rages between tho Hallatort champions and tho youths from the neighbouring village of Medbonrne, each party endeavouring to wrest it from the other. Play concluded, the victors repair to the market-place, where they orink tho contents of tlio bottle, which has served its purpose for over flirty years.