As far back as the 16th century, there was a Palm Fair held every year on the Village Green in Natland. Itinerant potters would camp on the Green and the Fair could last several days with wrestling, racing, dancing and cock-fighting.  

Subsequently the Fair took place on Palm Sunday only; people would walk from Kendal and enjoy a drop of Mrs Dawson's Nut Brown Ale.  

Discontinued in 1835 or thereabouts, the Fair was commemorated in the song Bonny Jane of Natland which was written by T. Blezard and published in his book of Original Westmorland Songs in 1868,

It was sung to the tune of "Up o'er the moorlands merrily".   Unfortunately, attempts to track down that tune have, so far, proved unfruitful but, in a book entitled Some Westmorland Villages, a compilation published by The Westmorland Foundation of Women's Institutes in 1957, it is suggested that it might also be sung to the tune of "Boys and Girls Come Out To Play".

Some folk remember the song as Bonny (or Bonnie) Jean, rather than Jane, and that would rhyme rather better with green and queen. Maybe it was pronounced closer to Jean than Jane in the local accent?

The song was produced as a play in 1935 by the Women's Institute and performed on the Village Green as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations.  Between each verse there was folk-dancing.  Christine Moore's mother, Laura Crabtree, played the role of Bonny Jane.

Bonny Jane again featured on the Village Green in June 1977, once more as part of Jubilee celebrations, this time in a parade.

This was referred to in a letter to the Westmorland Gazette from a Walter Jesson which in turn inspired a letter, quoted by Whin Inglesfield in her book, Natland and Oxenholme - The story of a Westmorland village, from a Mrs Elsie Fitzsimmons that appeared in the Westmorland Gazette of 8th July 1977.

She tells of the Natland W.I. in May 1935, of which she was then secretary, putting on "a delightful original item" on Natland Green entitled Bonnie Jane of Natland, produced by Mrs V M Feesey of Fisherflatt.  

Mrs Fitzsimmons went on to reproduce a poem that she wrote to record the event. The Westmorland Gazette, on the other hand, did not report this event, although it did describe other Jubilee celebrations in Natland:

The celebrations began with a service which was attended by the Brownies led by Miss Tamar Preston; the Girl Guides led by Miss Crewdson, the ex-Servicemen under Col. W. D. Crewdson, and a large congregation of parishioners.  A short address was given by the Rev. E. J. Millar, vicar, and Mr. Temple was at the organ.

Other activities included children's sports, in a field lent by Mr. E. Kendall, and tea. The prizes were presented by Miss Crewdson. People over 60 year of age were entertained to tea in the school and Mr J. Speed was loudly applauded when he sang an old song, "Bulls and cows," the chorus being taken up by the company.

A whist drive was held later in the evening.

The beacon on Helm was one of the best in the neighbourhood.  The pile was lit by Mrs W. D. Crewdson at 10 p.m. in the presence of a large crowd.  The rockets were fired by Mr. Miles Fothergill. The National Anthem was sung enthusiastically.

The beakers, provided by the Education Committee, were presented at the School on Friday.

The article is reproduced with the kind permission of  The Westmorland Gazette.

Other references to Bonny Jane of Natland are to be found on Daphne Lester's map of Natland and Oxenholme as well as on her Natland picture exhibited at this year's Art Show.

It was also the inspiration for Whin Inglesfield's Natland Palm Fair appliqué.

More information about Natland Palm Fair can be found in Natland and Oxenholme - The story of a Westmorland village.

Thanks to John Chandler, John Inglesfield, Whin Inglesfield, Tony Kelly, Daphne Lester, and Christine Moore for helping with the research.  

Original Westmorland Songs by T Blezard

Bonny Jane of Natland

Natland Fair shall be my song,
long ago when time was young
Then a blythesome merry throng,
held Palm Fair at Natland.

Palms were round the village born,
Palms the dwellings did adorn,
Crowds assembled round the thorn,
on the green at Natland.

'Twas a blythesome sight to see,
swains and sweethearts full of glee,
Dancing round the hawthorn tree,
on the green at Natland.

Then the blythe young shepherd swains,
used to piping on the plains
Always hushing forth their strains,
at the fairs at Natland.

Then a jolly Potter race,
had a noted dwelling place,
Which they'd had from early days,
in the midst of Natland.

Then there dwelt nigh to the green,
Bonny black eyed Potter Jane,
Natland's boast and beauty's queen,
Bonny Jane of Natland.

Shepherd John, a blythesome swain,
dwelling near to Beathwaite Green,
Left his flock on Sizergh plain,
crossed the dale to Natland.

There amidst the fair and glee,
Lovely Jane he chanced to see
Dancing round the hawthorn tree,
on the green at Natland.

Kindly he addressed the maid,
lovingly unto her said,
Be not angry nor afraid,
Bonny Jane of Natland.

Do not, fair one frown on me,
if I sit me down by thee
Here beside the hawthorn tree,
on the green at Natland.

That depends dear sir said she,
on your own civility,
This is called the lover's tree,
on the green at Natland.

Underneath its shady boughs,
lovers oft have made their vows,
Sit you down sir if you choose,
on the green at Natland.

Coulds't thou love a shepherds life,
coulds't thou love to hear me pipe,
Wilt thou be my loving wife,
Bonny Jane of Natland.

This can't be, quoth she, kind sir,  
I must ramble here and there,
Travelling with my earthenware,
still my home is Natland.

Listen, oh listen thus said John,
I can bring my flock to roam
Round about thy darling home,
round the green at Natland.

There in peace and unity,
happy happy we shall be,
Here beside this hawthorn tree,
on the green at Natland.

Before the year had passed and gone,
Jane was married unto John
Long they dwelt beside the thorn,
on the green at Natland.

Many years they lived to see,
Natland Fair and rounds of glee,
Dancing round the hawthorn tree,
on the green at Natland.

Natland is our native place,
many of our jolly race
now have lived to end their days,
gone to rest at Natland.

Detail from Natland Palm Fair by Whin Inglesfield

PUBLIC NOTICES.

15th ANNUAL

N^ATLAND O^PEN S^PORTS

(Under Distinguished Patronage).

President: Lt.-Col. W. D. Crewdson

These SPORTS will be held at

BARROWS GREEN, NATLAND

(Main Kendal - Endmoor Bus route)

on SATURDAY, JUNE 1st, 1935

Hound Trail, 4-30 p.m. (under H.T.A. rules), £10.

Puppy Trails, 2-30 p.m. (under H.T.A. rules), £7.

Guides Race, £5.

Open Gallop (handicap), about 1 mile, £4 in Prizes.

Open Pony Gallop (handicap), under 14 h.h., about ¾-mile, £3.

Open Gallop (handicap), Lady Riders, about ¾-mile, £3.

One Mile Handicap Race, Half-mile Handicap Race, Quoiting at 7 yards £1 15s.  Prizes for Ladies and Children's Races (Entry Free).

Entry Fees:  Hound Trail and Horse Races, 2s. 6d.; other Events, 1s.

All Entries for Foot and Horse Races to be sent to the Hon. Secretary,
Mr J. W. Huck, Barrows Green, near Kendal,
not later than Wednesday, May 29th, 1935.

Entry Forms now ready.

First event 1-30 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided by Mr J Marshall.

Admission to the Field (including tax) 1s. 3d.; Children 6d.

Motors 2s. 6d.  Occupants paying ordinary Admission prices.
 Stalls and Stand 5s each.

DANCE in NATLAND SCHOOL

Same Date, at 7-30 p.m.

TENSE MOMENT AT NATLAND SPORTS

Hound Almost Caught By Express Train

RECORD CROWD

Natland's 15th annual sports, held in a field at Barrow Green, lent by Mr J. W. Huck, on Saturday, were favoured with fine weather which, together with the excellent programme of events attracted people from a wide area, the "gate" being the largest for many years.

An exciting incident occurred in the puppy trail.  Waltz Away and Coldstream were running a close race, near the railway line, where the aniseed was laid through a "cattle creep".  As Coldstream was nearing the line the Carlisle-Preston express was seen approaching.  To the surprise of the spectators Coldstream ran off the trail and on to the line.  The puppy ran down the four foot way, and it seemed certain that it would be run over, but it turned across the line and down the embankment a few seconds in front of the train.

Great interest also centred in the horse events, the gallops being a feature of the sports.

THE HOUND TRAILS

Mr S. J. Freeman started 12 runners in the puppy trail, which resulted: 1 Atkinson's Waltz Away, Broughton; 2 Gill's Coldstream, Windermere; 3 Miss H. Harrison's Harmony, Kirkby Lonsdale; 4 Fell's Faithful, Windermere; 5 Mrs Bottomley's Idle Lass, Grasmere; 6 Wilson's Ruby, Windermere.  Time 23 mins. 42 secs.

There were 26 old dogs sliped.  Result:  1 Unsworth's Joker, Kendal; 2 Stansfield's Skiddaw, Windermere; 3 Pattinson's Wild Echo, Borrowdale; 4 Wilson's Cowboy, Troutbeck; 5 Middleton's Slip Away, Burton; 6 Miss Harrison's Valentine, Kirkby Lonsdale.  Time 25 mins.

There was only a small entry for the guides race, which was to the top of Helm and back to the field.  Jack James, Kirkby Lonsdale, came out an easy winner.  In the local events, the married men's race had over 40 competitors and was run in heats.

Col. W. D. Crewdson, Helm Lodge, was president of the Sports Association, with Messrs. H Stephenson (chairman), J. W. Huck (secretary) and R. Wilson (treasurer). Members of the committee who carried out the duties of stewards were Messrs. W. Howson, J. C. Dixon, H. Howson, F, Craghill, E. Gibson, J Howson, W. Greatorex,
J. Little, F. Corrie, R. Bindloss, T. Hodgson, J. Still, F. Heap (Kendal), J. Allen,
H. Gibon and V. Reed, assisted by T. Mooney.  Messrs. H Howson and W. Greatorex were judges of the foor races, with J Wright (Kendal) time keeper.  The trailers were F. Middlebrough and A. Rawlinson.

LIST OF RESULTS

The race results were:

Mile- 1 W. R. Palmer, 2 E. Bleasdale, Carnforth.

Open gallop- 1. J. H. Edgar, 2 T. Prickett.

Pony Gallop (lady riders)- 1 J. H. Edgar, 2 M. Davies.

Half-mile- 1 J. Wilding, Ulverston; 2 W. R. Palmer, Kendal; 3 E. Bleasdale, Carnforth.

Guides race- 1 J. James, Kirkby Lonsdale ; 2 A Jones, Halton ; 3 J. S. Nelson, Stainton.

Quoits- 1 T. Hobson, Hutton Roof ; 2 J. Ellwood, Skelsmergh ; 3 T. Martindale, Skelsmergh.

Local events.- Girl's race (14 years and under)- 1 Ellen Knowles, 2 Daphne Hamilton, 3 Margaret Pennington.

Boys race, do.- 1 Kenneth Gregson, 2 John Handley, 3 Allan Burton.

Singles ladies' race- 1 F Martindale, 2 P Watts, 3 A. Clark.

Married men- 1 J. W. Nelson, 2 E Burrow, 3 L. Barwise.

Married ladies- 1 Mrs. H. Howson, Kendal; 2 Mrs. Nicholson.

Damage estimated at several hundreds of pounds was done by a fire at Natland Park Farm, on Sunday, which destroyed about 100 tons of this year's hay.

About 5:20 a.m., a maid in the employ of Cannon E. J. Miller, vicar of Natland, saw the flames whilst looking through a window of the vicarage, and she informed  Cannon Miller who telephoned to Kendal Borough Police and summoned the Fire Brigade.

In charge of the Chief Constable (Mr. P. O'Neill), the Brigade turned out immediately and on arrival found that the nearest water supply was the Kendal - Lancaster canal, which was half a mile below the farm.  Four policemen were taken out to assist the Brigade in laying the 2,460 feet of hose.

The roof of the barn, which contained about 100 tons of hay, had fallen in, and there was a danger of adjoining buildings becoming involved.  The Brigade concentrated on preventing the flames from spreading, and their efforts met with success.

The task of the firemen was made more difficult by the heat of the sun during the whole of the 12 hours that they were engaged.  The firemen were forced to abandon their uniform, and stripped off to the waist.

Two carts and a number of agricultural implement, which included a reaper, seed roller and cake crusher, were destroyed.

In Greta's Tale, Greta Romaine (formerly Clark) told of being Evacuated To Stay With A Lovely Aunt in Natland Mill Beck Lane during the war.  
Early Working Days tells how that experience influenced her future career.
There was also a poem dedicated to her Wartime Mum.

As she promised, Greta has now written more about her time in Natland. In
The Happy Evacuee she looks back at Natland, Natland Mill Beck and surrounding area in wartime.

Farm Cottage and Chapman's Farm

Topics covered include:

Helm Lodge and the Crewdsons
Round the Farms
Natland Mill Beck
Canal and River
Going to Church
The Lodge
Up Helm
Steam Outings
Outdoor Activities

To find out more visit Greta's Tales.

 Scrapbook 2 #01:

Bonny Jane
and the 1935 Jubilee 

 Scrapbook 2 #02:

1935
Natland Open Sports

  Scrapbook 2 #03:

1935
Natland Sports Results

  Scrapbook 2 #04:

1937
The Natland Park Fire

Scrapbook 2 #05

1940
Reaping For Victory

Scrapbook 2 #06

1940s
The Happy Evacuee

Scrapbook 2 #07

1944
Dear Daddy, Win The War

Scrapbook 2 #08

1947
Natland School

Scrapbook 2 #09

1947
Natland School Sports

Scrapbook 2 #10

1948
Natland Fancy Dress

Scrapbook 2 #11

1950?
A Bicycle Made For Three

Scrapbook 2 #12

c 1950/1
Natland School Photo

Scrapbook 2 #13

1951
Christmas at the Browns

Scrapbook 2 #14

Late 50s / early 60s
The Headteacher's
Daughter