Littleport Village Sign (RGL2025)

Littleport Data

Littleport Data

Littleport traditions recorded in ‘Fenland Past to Present’ in April 1991:

Men would declare their love by making two brooches, each from three ears of corn and strands of straw, He would wear one on the right-hand side of his chest at church; the second he would present without speaking to his intended. She would take the brooch home and discuss the matter with her parents. The next Sunday if she wore the brooch on the right side the man was rejected; he she wore it on the left over her heart, he was accepted.

Babies born in Littleport on March 21, May 1 or September 23 were supposed to be blessed and able to see into the future. Births would be dealyed or speeded up to ensure delivery on the right day. Births were encouraged by drinking a mixture of horehound, rue, gin and poppy juice. Unmarried girls were made to eat tansy leaves to bring on miscarriages.

In the 19th century Granny Grey would give unmarried girls a ‘Littleport Pill’ made from hemlock, pennyroyal and rue, and encourage chewing of cannabis leaves to bring about miscarriages.

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Witchcraft in Littleport:

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Mike Petty’s Scrapbook:

https://archive.org/details/LittleportScrapbook18971990