 The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield
was George A'Green, (a pinder was the keeper of the pen that held stray domestic animals).
George would have lived north of the present-day Pinderfields Hospital.
Click image to enlarge.
Photograph © John S. Sargent 10th June 2010. |
 Find out more about the Jolly Pinder and the sculpture's artist, Harry Malkin.
Click image to enlarge.
Photograph © John S. Sargent 10th June 2010. |
 Robin Hood - the Wentbridge Connection
Find out more about Robin Hood and Wentbridge in the Wakefield Metropolitan District. |
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The Pinder of Wakefield was also, it seems, a follower of that fine Yorkshireman, Robin Hood who lived in Wakefield. More about this on channel4.com.
"In Wakefield there lives a jolly pinder,
In Wakefield, all on a green.
"There is neither knight nor squire," said the pinder,
"Nor barron that is so bold,
Dare make a trespasse to the town of Wakefield,
But his pledge goes to the pinfold."
All this beheard three wight young men,
'Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John;
With that they spyed the jolly pinder,
As he sate under a thorn.
"Now turn again, turn again," said the pinder,
"For a wrong way have you gone;
For you have forsaken the king his high way,
And made a path over the corn."
"O that were great shame," said jolly Robin,
"We being three, and thou but one."
The pinder leapt back then three good foot,
'Twas three good foot and one.
He leaned his back fast unto a thorn,
And his foot unto a stone,
And there he fought a long summer's day,
A summer's day so long.
Till that their swords, on their broad bucklers,
Were broken fast unto their hands.
"Hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said Robin Hood,
"And my merry men every one.
"For this is one of the best pinders
That ever I saw with eye.
And wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft,
And live in green wood with me?"
"At Michaelmas next my cov'nant comes out,
When every man gathers his fee;
I'le take my blew blade all in my hand,
And plod to the green wood with thee."
"Hast thou either meat or drink," said Robin Hood
"For my merry men and me?"
"I have both bread and beef," said the pinder,
"And good ale of the best."
"And that is meat good enough," said Robin Hood,
"For such unbidden guest.
"O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft,
And go to the green wood with me?
Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year,
The one green, the other brown."
"If Michaelmas day were once come and gone
And my master had paid me my fee,
Then would I set as little by him
As my master doth set by me.
I'le take my benbowe in my hand,
And come into the grenwode to thee."
An old ballad dating from at least 1632, collected by Francis James Child and published in The English and Scottish Popular Ballads in the 19th century.
Find out more about the Pinder of Wakefield at midgleywebpages.com and on Wikipedia. |
