Village Memories and Music

Earlier this year, folk musician Paul Rogers and reminiscence workshop leader Joe Greene undertook a project in Oundle and surrounding villages. The project involved Joe visiting older people to record their memories. Paul then used these as inspiration for new songs.

Ivy Evans (96 years old) recalled home life as a child and her happy married life with Dougie who played drums in a local band. She also talked of Mary Queen of Scots who was imprisoned in nearby Fotheringhay Castle and (as local lore has it) escaped and was found hiding in an upstairs alcove in the house where Ivy`s sister later lived. She and other local children spent a lot of time exploring the banks of the Nene and often went swimming. Ivy was proud of her swimming achievements, winning several trophies.


The Dougies circa 1935 -
Doug Evans the drummer was Ivy's husband
Ivy Evans receiving a swimming award, 1925
Ivy has written a poem about her father, John Fox:

John Fox was Oundle`s ash-cart man

His horse and cart preceded his motor van

They toured the streets collecting trash

But one winter morning they had a crash

The horse slipped on a patch of ice

And bit off dad`s thumb as it tried to rise.

After stitching back the severed digit,

The recovery period made him fidget.

So he went back to his dear old mare,

Collecting rubbish but with extra care!


Dougie and Jean Clarke on their wedding day


Dougie and Jean Clarke today

Dougie Clarke aged 11

Jean aged 8 		David and Sheila Wills can trace their ancestry back to the early 1700s in Oundle (and probably beyond!). David was born in a one up/one down cottage where there was no running water (unless you counted the cellar which often flooded!). He grew up in a peaceful, pleasant town. Being drunk on the market square was the worst crime one could fear in Oundle in the mid 20th Century and many houses had no locks on the external doors.

Compared to David and Sheila, Dougie Clarke`s family were relatively “newcomers”, moving to the area in 1845 when his great-grandfather came as a Railway policeman. During WW2, Dougie was a lad of 11. Hearing of the advancing Nazis, he constructed a small stone barrier in Benefield Road and, catapult in hand, went on patrol! However, the peace of Oundle was shattered when a Mescherscmitt strafed West Street, destroying a shop and damaging others.

Another notable event referred to was the infamous Oundle Witches who were executed in Northampton in 1705. They were Elinor Shaw and Mary Phillips, reputedly the last people to be executed for witchcraft in England. Elinor was born at Cotterstock near Oundle, and appears to have had a neglected childhood. Mary came from Oundle and the two became teenage friends. There was nothing remarkable about them until Elinor turned 21. Her crude (and lewd) behaviour led to children calling her names and mocking the pair with “whore” and “strumpet”. Elinor swore revenge.
Appearing before the Northampton Assizes on Wednesday 7th March 1705, their extraordinary story unravelled. Chief among the accusations was that they had killed 4 year old Elizabeth Gorham of Glapthorn and Charles Ireland of Southwick. Witnesses swore that the pair was accompanied by imps. Another witness had heard Elinor say of a Mrs Wise “I`ve done her business now I am sure, this night I`ll send the Devil a new year`s gift”. Mrs Wise, fell ill on New Year`s Eve and died at midnight.

This and Elinor`s and Mary`s confessions, sealed their fate. At their execution, in between bouts of demonic laughter, they called on the Devil to help them. They were hanged on Northampton Racecourse at the corner of Kingsley Park Terrace and then “Burnt to Ashes”.

”Thus liv`d and thus Dyed (sic), two of the most notorious and presumptuous Witches, that ever were known in this Age”
Oundle witches: Woodcut illustration of a witch

Rememberance day 1965 at Oundle cenotaph 		The above is just a fraction of the memories captured. All have been recorded digitally and a copy will be given for Oundle Museum`s archives as a lasting record of rural life in the early/mid twentieth century.
Inspired by what they heard, Paul Rogers and Yasmin Bradley (members of the folk-group Frumenty) have produced the following songs on the cd “Memory Lane”:

1. The Devil Knew His Own(Rogers) – a song about the two Oundle witches, Elinor Shaw and Mary Phillips
Listen to The Devil Knew His Own here

2. Cold (Bradley) – home “cures” for the common cold

3. River (Rogers) – a instrumental tribute to the Nene

4. The Gamekeeper – inspired by a son whose father was a gamekeeper wounded by poachers

Listen to The Gamekeeper here

5. Fotheringhay – the tragic fate of Mary, Queen of Scots at Fotheringhay Castle


See Frumenty on

For further information on the project, please contact Liz Clarke at Serve on 01933 3155555

Supported by East Northamptonshire Council