Castleton Garland Day

It's May 29th, Oak Apple Day, the public holiday held between 1660 and 1859 which celebrated the restoration of King Charles II. Castleton Garland Day is a Derbyshire custom which combines 'modern' elements of Oak Apple Day with much older May Day 'Jack in The Green' Paganism.

'The King' is put on a horse then festooned in a heavy garland of flowers topped with a smaller wreath. Thus 'crowned', he goes from pub to pub with great pomp and circumstance, with a Queen, a band, and most of the village following behind him. Music is played, songs are sung, ale is imbibed and, eventually (much to the relief of 'The King', no doubt) the larger garland of flowers is taken from him and put on top of the tower of the church, and the smaller wreath placed on the War Memorial (i.e. where the Maypole would have once been).

Castleton is generally a very interesting place: it has a ruined castle and four impressive show caverns which used to serve as Lead and Blue John mines. It's one of my favourite places, although it can get very touristy - that said, I don't live there, so I suppose I'm part of the problem.

Interesting Postcards

Speedwell Cavern

Castleton,

Derbyshire (A625)

'Foot-pushing'

'The Guide's method of propelling the boats along the old mine levels when visiting the Speedwell Cavern. A Method copied from the old canal bargees.'

A rather motley looking crew here. In no order, particular favourites are: the ginger Bay City Roller in the cool striped blazer - absolutely at the height of fashion at the moment this photograph was taken - obsolete by the time it had been printed onto a postcard; the fellow with the semi-closed eyes, great sideburns and a fetching moustache who looks like he's probably carrying a knife; the middle aged woman with the plastic head scarf who is simply refusing to enjoy herself and, last of all, the happy tall fellow at the back who is about to get a severe concussion. They just don't make 'em like this, anymore - who these days would be daring enough to wear a black leather coat with a canary yellow polo neck?