I hear the far-off curfew sound,
Over some wide-water’d shore,
Swinging slow with sullen roar.
_Milton._
That the curfew-bell came in with William the Conqueror is a common, but
erroneous, supposition. It is true, that by one of his laws he ordered
the people to put out their fires and lights, and go to bed, at the
eight-o’clock curfew-bell; but Henry says, in his “History of Great
Britain,” that there is sufficient evidence of the curfew having
prevailed in different parts of Europe at that period, as a precaution
against fires, which were frequent and fatal, when so many houses were
built of wood. It is related too, in Peshall’s “History of Oxford,” that
Alfred the Great ordered the inhabitants of that city to cover their
fires on the ringing of the bell at Carfax every night at eight
o’clock; “which custom is observed to this day, and the bell as
constantly rings at eight as Great Tom tolls at nine.” Wherever the
curfew is now rung in England, it is usually at four in the morning, and
eight in the evening, as at Hoddesdon on Shrove Tuesday.
* * * * *
Concerning the curfew, or the instrument used to cover the fire, there
is a communication from the late Mr. Francis Grose, the well remembered
antiquary, in the “Antiquarian Repertory” (vol. i.) published by Mr. Ed.
Jeffery. Mr. Grose enclosed a letter from the Rev. F. Gostling, author
of the “Walk through Canterbury,” with a drawing of the utensil, from
which an engraving is made in that work, and which is given here on
account of its singularity. No other representation of the curfew
exists.
[Illustration]
“This utensil,” says the Antiquarian Repertory, “is called a curfew, or
_couvre-feu_, from its use, which is that of suddenly putting out a
fire: the method of applying it was thus;--the wood and embers were
raked as close as possible to the back of the hearth, and then the
curfew was put over them, the open part placed close to the back of the
chimney; by this contrivance, the air being almost totally excluded, the
fire was of course extinguished. This curfew is of copper, rivetted
together, as solder would have been liable to melt with the heat. It is
10 inches high, 16 inches wide, and 9 inches deep. The Rev. Mr.
Gostling, to whom it belongs, says it has been in his family for time
immemorial, and was always called the curfew. Some others of this kind
are still remaining in Kent and Sussex.” It is proper to add to this
account, that T. Row, in the “Gentleman’s Magazine,” because no mention
is made “of any particular implement for extinguishing the fire in any
writer,” is inclined to think “there never was any such.” Mr. Fosbroke
in the “Encyclopædia of Antiquities” says, “an instrument of copper
presumed to have been made for covering the ashes, but of uncertain use,
is engraved.” It is in one of Mr. F.’s plates.
On T. Row’s remark, who is also facetious on the subject, it may be
observed, that his inclination to think there never was any such
implement, is so far from being warrantable, if the fact be even
correct, that it has not been mentioned by any ancient writer, that the
fair inference is the converse of T. Row’s inclination. Had he consulted
“Johnson’s Dictionary,” he would have found the curfew itself explained
as “a cover for a fire; a fire-plate.--_Bacon._” So that if Johnson is
credible, and his citation of authorities is unquestionable, Bacon, no
very modern writer, is authority for the fact that there _was_ such an
implement as the curfew.
* * * * *
_Football at Kingston._
Mr. P., an obliging contributor, furnishes the _Every-Day Book_ with a
letter from a _Friend_, descriptive of a custom on this day in the
vicinity of London.
Respected Friend,
Having some business which called me to Kingston-upon-Thames on the day
called Shrove Tuesday, I got upon the Hampton-court coach to go there.
We had not gone above four miles, when the coachman exclaimed to one of
the passengers, “It’s Foot-ball day;” not understanding the term, I
questioned him what he meant by it; his answer was, that I would see
what he meant where I was going.--Upon entering Teddington, I was not a
little amused to see all the inhabitants securing the glass of all their
front windows from the ground to the roof, some by placing hurdles
before them, and some by nailing laths across the frames. At Twickenham,
Bushy, and Hampton-wick, they were all engaged in the same way: having
to stop a few hours at Hampton-wick and Kingston, I had an opportunity
of seeing the whole of the custom, which is, to carry a foot-ball from
door to door and beg money:--at about 12 o’clock the ball is turned
loose, and those who can, kick it. In the town of Kingston, all the
shops are purposely kept shut upon that day; there were several balls in
the town, and of course several parties. I observed some persons of
respectability following the ball: the game lasts about four hours, when
the parties retire to the public-houses, and spend the money they before
collected in refreshments.
I understand the corporation of Kingston attempted to put a stop to this
practice, but the judges confirmed the right of the game, and it now
legally continues, to the no small annoyance of some of the inhabitants,
besides the expense and trouble they are put to in securing all their
windows.
I was rather surprised that such a custom should have existed so near
London, without my ever before knowing of it.
From thy respected Friend,