Butchery / Elwes Street

Ros Clark, 4 April 2005

Hi there,
My father was Hughie Clark and lived all his life in Brigg. He spent most of his time working for the council and I grew up in Brigg, leaving at 18 to go to college. I have just come across your web site and thought that this poem may be interest to some of your readers. Unfortunately I do not know who wrote it but I hope there are some people left who know of the characters it portrays. It was given to me by my mother who is now also dead so I cannot get any more information from her, but I guess the time it talks about is pre war. She worked in Varlows during the war so perhaps one of her customers gave her it. I am copying it faithfully.

Butchery (known to the upper crust as Elwes Street)

In Butchery there did live
Some queer people that there did
There was Granny Newbury, smoking a pipe
And Pop Factory owned by John Willie White

There was Jimmy Rowntree chopping wood
And Tommy Milson, chewing his cud
Buffy Henderson cutting it short
And 'Woppy' Rosie who had a big wart.

A voice from Durham's was calling them in
And Mrs Hykes brood was creating a din
John's 'Big Hands' makes our lips smack
But he never washed them when he'd been to the 'back'

Mrs Loynes dusting her room
Bunny Alcock, whistling a tune
Mrs Drayton, making self bright
Carky tweeds - it's Saturday night

Eaton's Fish Shop -'frying tonight'
The Hammer in Hand where there's many a fight
Women running with jugs of beer
Barla Binns, pig feeding, feeling his years.

Emm Parrot calling 'My Jim' from the yard
Fred Ridley whistling 'Tony' to work hard
Patsy returning home very tight
No room for Pat at the 'inn' that night.

Ann Parrots concerts, admission a pin
Then down 'drain banks' and in for a swim
Ken Banks galloping to school very fast
'A minute to nine Ken' we called him at last.

George Peck with apron and cart with a load
Calling in 'Nelson', just one for the road
John Tom Kettle - pans and pot
And away for 'last trip' Well thats your lot.

Perhaps the mention of The Hammer in hand may help to date it because although there were a lot of pubs in Brigg when I was growing up I don't remember that one. What a lot of fascinating questions spring to mind… Ann parrots concerts for example. I would be pleased if anyone can cast a light on a ny of this.

Cheers, Ros Clark (Once barmaid at the Angel, canner at Springs and lots more)