Aw've Turned Mi Bit O' Garden O'er
A Poem by Samuel Laycock 1826 ~ 1893

Aw've Turned Mi Bit O' Garden O'er

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Aw've turned mi bit o' garden o'er, An' set mi seed an' o;
Soa neaw aw've done, aw'll rest a bit, An' sit an' watch it grow.
It's noice to have a little spot, Wheer one con ceawr 'em deawn,
A quiet comfortable place, Eawtside o' th' busy teawn,
Wheer one can sit an' smoke the'r poipe, An' have a friendly chat,
Or read th' newspaper o'er a bit, Or talk abeawt Shurat;
Or listen to some owd mon's tale, Some vet'ran come fro' th' wars;
Aw loike to yer 'em spin the'r yarn, An' show the'r wounds an' scars.

One neet aw thowt aw'd tak' a walk As far as th'Hunter's Teawr,
To beg a daisy root or two: Tom's gan me mony a fleawr.
They're bloomin' i' mi garden neaw, Aw've sich a bonny show;
Aw've daisies, pinks, carnations, too, An' pollyants an' o.
Yo' couldn't think heaw preawd aw feel, O' every plant an' fleawr;
Aw couldn't ha' cared for childer moor, Aw've nursed 'em mony a heawer.
But tho' they neaw look fresh an' fair, They'll droop the'r yeads an' dee;
They hanno lung to tarry here, They're just loike yo' an' me.

Dark-lookin' cleawds are gatherin' reawnd, Aw think it's beawn to rain;
Ther's nowt could pleos me better neaw, Aw should be rare an' fain!
Mi bit o' seed wants deggin' o'er, To help to mak' it spreawt;
It's summat loike a choild's first teeth, 'At wantin' helpin' eawt.
But aw'll be off, afore aw'm wet, It's getten reet agate;
An' while it comes aw think aw'll get A bit o' summat t'ate;
For oh, it is a hungry job, This warkin' eawt o' th'door;
Th'committee should alleaw for this, An' give one rayther moor.

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Aw should so loike a good blow eawt, A feed off beefsteak pie;
But aw can ne'er get nowt loike that Wi' th' bit aw draw, not I!
Aw'm glad enough o' porritch neaw, Or tothrey cold potates;
Iv aw can get enoo o' these, Aw'st do till th'factory gates.
It's welly gan o'er rainin', so Aw'll have another look,
An' see heaw th'garden's gettin' on: An' then aw'll get a book,
An' read an heawer or two for th'woife, An' sing a bit for Ted;
Then poo mi clogs off, fasten t'doors, An' walk upsteers to bed.

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Samuel Laycock was born in Marsden West Yorkshire the son of a weaver. He moved to Stalybridge aged 9 and in later life to Blackpool for health reasons, where he died in 1893.


About Farthingale Publications...

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... Is a hobby web site containing articles of local interest to Lancastrians, some favourite walking and cycling routes, selected words and poetry, and some writings of more general and whimsical nature, as well as the authors own picture gallery. Access is available via the homepage and menu at the head of the page. Listed below is a selection of recommended reading.

Richmond Hill Dairies - Pemberton

These pages contain some personal memories from my youth and my association with Richmond Hill Dairies, a local business I grew up with and remember with some affection. A well known and important feature of the local community in its day and part of the heritage of Pemberton, this is my attempt to commit some small snapshot of its history to print, I hope these pages paint a worthy picture.

Mind Your Language

A humorous poem by "the bard of Haydock" George Anderton, inspired by memories of a trip to Bad Canstatt, Stuttgart Germany with the Haydock Male Voice Choir in 1975. This publication will bring a smile to the faces of not only those members who were there at the time and know the people involved but the wider population of Haydock as well who speak the language.

Wigan and the American Civil War

Wigan Coal and Iron Company, The Right Honourable John Lancaster MP for Wigan, the Confederate Raider Alabama, USS Kearsarge, Cherbourg and the yacht Deerhound all feature in the last great sea battle of the American Civil War.

Wigan Old Bank 1792

A tragic boating accident on Windermere and a surprising journey through the social history of Wigan during the reign of Queen Victoria, highlighting the relationships between four families who played an important part in the commercial development of the town.

The Brocklebank Line

Daniel Brocklebank (1741-1801), shipbuilder and mariner, a brief biography, and some background detail of his family and the shipping line he founded.

Little Ships at Zeebrugge 1918

An account of a heroic attempt to block the port of Zeebrugge during the first World War, to protect supply routes into the UK by denying enemy submarines based there access to the open sea.

A Cricket Calypso

A short biopic of cricketer Cyril Washbrook and a snapshot of his career including his role in the West Indies tour of 1950 recorded in the lyrics of the Cricket Calypso.

Not Much of a Warrior

Wigan RLFC in the fifties and sixties, through rose coloured glasses. A golden age of legendary players and memorable moments, along with some personal memories.

Further reading material

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Local Interest: Richmond Hill Dairies; Mind Your Language; John Lancaster MP; Thomas Aspinwall (Miners Agent); Upholland Telephone Exchange 1962; Thomas Linacre School; Scot Lane School; The Lindsays of Haigh; Dust Upon God's Fair Earth; Nurburgring 1960; Wigan Advertisements 1960; Wigan Soldier Missing in Action; It's a Funny Life; Thomas Whitham VC; Isaac Watts; Wigan Old Bank; The Brocklebank Line; John Byrom of Lowton; The Holy City; Private Walter Turton; Little Ships at War; Cricket Calypso; Not Much of a Warrior.

Walking & Cycling: Moss Eccles Tarn; Abbey Lakes to Coppull Moor; Chorley Ice Cream Walk; Douglas Valley Dawdle; Three Counties Cycle Ride; Haigh to Borsdane Wood; A Lancshire Lineaer Walk; Blackrod or Bust; Cycle the Sankey Valley; Cycle the Monsal Trail; Wigan Circular by Bike; Freshfield to Crosby; Irwell Valley Trail (Bury to Rawtenstall); Irwell Valley (Bury to Salford).

Words & Poetry: The Heart of Midlothian; The Family Man; The Fair Rosamond; The Fair Rosamond Comic; The Wreck of the Hesperus; God Bless these Poor Wimmen that's Childer; Dombey and Son; Aw've Turned me bit O' Garden O'er; On Th' Hills; Four Favourite Poems; The Darkling Thrush; The Glory of the Garden; The Rolling English Road; Hymn Before Action; Dust upon God's Fair Earth; Mind Your Language; Jeff Unsworth’s dialect poetry; Martyrs of the Arena.

Wallgate Chronicles: Hugo Boss comes to Wigan; In the footsteps of the Manchester Rambler; Fun with Trigonometry; Surprise at the Philharmonic; Cat Bells; A Walk in the Hills; Eay Times Uv Changed; Fidelio; The Ravioli Room; Desert Island Discs; Travels in Time; The Spectroscope; The Bohemian Girl; Bookcase; Barnaby Rudge; Romance on a Budget; The Battle of Solferino; The Getaway Car; The Switchroom Wigan; The Force of Destiny; Adolphe Adam; The Fair Maid of Perth; Ivanhoe; Semele; Lohengrin.

Farthingale Publications: A hobby website of curiosities and nonsense

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