Every so often I will post material that did not make the script of Marsh Fen and Town.
The following are sayings from 17th to the 20th centuries.
"A Fenman's dowry, threescore geese and a pelt."
A sheepskin was worn as an outer garment.
"It thickens in the clear."
This alludes to the sky or weather.
"His brains are gone wool-gathering."
On magpies: "One for sorrow; Two for mirth; Three for a wedding; and Four for death."
"Though Boston be a proud town.
Skirbeck compasseth it around."
"Skirbeck straddle wide.
Boston full of pride."
"Butterwick over Freiston once bore sway,
But now it's turned quite the other way."
The above sayings reference the different economic and geographical changes that happened as Boston developed.
"It's as bare as a Boston Scalp."
this sand bank in the Wash was near the entrance to the Witham and once bore Oyster beds.
"As high as Boston stump."
"He's as wild as a Wildmore tit." - this references a wild pony species that occupied the Fen.
"Web-footed like a Fen Man"
"The Fen nightingale" - references the noise of mating toads, most probably natterjack toads.
"He runs like a red-shank." - references the wader that was often called "the warden of the marsh" as it's cry alerts other wildfowl and waders of danger.
"If a cat has a cold it certainly goes through the family."
"Levertons haven't made a riddle small enough for her to catch a man." - a reference to Levertons engineers in Spalding and the wire frame riddle used to sort potatoes by hand.
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