Deptford is bringing in the May this year with Full Bloom, a weekend music and beer festival: 'Led by Villages Brewery and a network of local venues, Deptford in Full Bloom brings together live music, folk sessions, DJs, zine fairs, art exhibitions, and pop-ups across the neighbourhood. Expect everything from open mic nights and jazz sessions to street celebrations and the iconic May Day parade. You can see the full programme here.
The main event as usual will be the Fowlers Troop Deptford Jack in the Green festival, a revival of a 19th century tradition that has itself been going since 1984. On May Day the procession will begin and end at the Dog and Bell, making its way through the day between various local pubs (route below).
The 19th century Jack in the Green procession was very much associated with chimney sweeps in particular, with May Day known as 'the sweeps' holiday'. As an 1862 court case from Woolwich shows, it wasn't always a respectable affair. In this instance, participants in the local Jack in the Green were accused of fighting and smashing up the Wellesley Arms pub after being refused beer (the now demolished pub stood in Hillreach SE18)
Kentish Independent, 3 May 1862
I have previously written a history of May Day in South London, you can buy a copy of the pamphlet from Past Tense (please don't order from Amazon, I don't use that account and am locked out of it!). You can also read it at archive.org
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment