Poster for 'Wakes Week', Newcastle-under-Lyme

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Date:1842

Description:'Wakes Week' was originally a religious celebration that became a secular tradition, especially in northern industrial towns post Industrial Revolution. Factories would close for a week or two and give their workers time off. Schools were closed at the same time. The week would be full of dancing, games and other entertainment such as wheelbarrow and bag racing, leap frog competitions and a 'splendid cavalcade' (a parade through the centre of town). This poster also warns that the Chief Officer of Police could arrest all who refuse to play their part. Unfortunately, as the British manufacturing industry began to decline in the late 20th Century, the tradition was lost.

Some of the games are unfamiliar to a modern audience, so here are some definitions.
'Prison Bars': a game of tag.
'Tip Cat': a game similar to cricket, but with a stick instead of a ball.
'Taws': marbles. The aim was to shoot as many marbles as possible out of a ring.
'Steeple Chasing': horse racing.
'Grin Through a Collar': gurning, attempting to make the worst face possible.
'To eat stir pudding with an awl': eating suet pudding with a fork


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1770s
Miniature of Dr Blest Hadderton, Mayor of Newcastle, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Miniature of Dr Blest Hadderton, Mayor of Newcastle, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Blest Hadderton began his practice as a doctor in the 1700s on the High Street and ...

1840s
Poster for 'Wakes Week', Newcastle-under-Lyme
Poster for 'Wakes Week', Newcastle-under-Lyme

A Newcastle-under-Lyme poster from 1847 announcing Queen Victoria's order to reinstate ...

1900s
Wakes, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Wakes, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

The busy market merges with the fair ground rides in this scene of a Wakes in Newcastle. ...

1930s
Market Hall, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Market Hall, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

The covered market hall, seen here on the right was built in 1854, in order to supplement ...

1940s
Hick Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Hick Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

A streetscene from 1948 depicting the terraced houses and cobbles of Hick Street ...

1970s
Octocentenary Celebrations, Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Octocentenary Celebrations, Newcastle-Under-Lyme

A view of the crowded High Street during the celebrations. In 1973 Newcastle ...

2000s
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

This is the Newcastle-under-Lyme High Street in 2001. The Woolworths Group collapsed ...

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Donor ref:Nm.2019.109 (22/48419)

Source: Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle under Lyme

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.