Black Dog Molly

Dancers of The Black Dog Molly dance group at Grindon, looking very fearsome.

The Accordion player

The Accordion player of The Black Dog Molly dance group at Grindon.

Hurdy gurdy

The Hurdy Gurdy player of The Black Dog Molly dance group at Grindon.

This is it

A well dressing from Grindon.

Well dressing (also once known as well flowering) is a summer custom practised in rural England in which wells, springs or other water sources are decorated with designs created from flower petals. The custom is most closely associated with the Peak District of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

What is it?

Grindon Hedgehog Rolling Festival

Each summer Grindon continues to celebrate the ancient tradition of Hedgehog Rolling. The history of this event is somewhat uncertain, depending as it does, on the memories of villagers who are now unfortunately long deceased. However, it seems that hedgehogs were widely kept as pets (for their pest control abilities) and some were specifically trained to take place in hedgehog races. Ultrasonic whistles (similar to those used with sheep-dogs) would signal to the hogs when they were to roll up (for downhill sections of the course) or unroll (for uphill sections). It is believed that Lewis Carroll got the idea for the Flamingo & Hedgehog Croquet game in Alice in Wonderland after visiting Grindon on Hedgehog Rolling day.

The hogs that are rolled nowadays have been selectively bred and reared to bear a striking resemblance to large fir cones and they are brushed around the village course by ‘rollers’ armed with traditional besoms.

The hedgehogs all have their pet names and each entrant is allowed to choose their own hog on the strict understanding it is returned to the Registration Tent after completion of the course. Although housed together in the Registration Tent the hogs are exceptionally well behaved and show almost no annoyance at being taken out in the blazing sun on a number of occasions.

Hedghog rolling, on your marks!

The start of the boys race.

Hedghog rolling!

More on this tomorrow.

All around the Maypole

The entertainment or at least some of it, the effort put in to this display was fantastic and i had not seen may pole dancing for years.

Splat the rat

A less traditional game, but it still looked like fun.

Due to on going computer problems and work commitments, the Leek daily photo, will be posted every other day for the coming few weeks (i won't be changing the name as "the Leek every other day, if the computer work, photo blog" is a bit of a mouth full.

Football mad

Looking back it seems a little strange but that was the Saturday of the big England Germany game and everywhere there was a felling of excitement and trepidation, football was everywhere just for one day.

Due to on going computer problems and work commitments, the Leek daily photo, will be posted every other day for the coming few weeks (i won't be changing the name as "the Leek every other day, if the computer work, photo blog" is a bit of a mouth full.

Coconut shy

The most traditional stall at the fete and one i had not see for some time, a coconut shy.

The village

Bagnall on the move, what looks like the whole village follows the queens as they head to the village hall.

Due to on going computer problems and work commitments, the Leek daily photo, will be posted every other day for the coming few weeks (i won't be changing the name as "the Leek every other day, if the computer work, photo blog" is a bit of a mouth full.

Starting out

The queens leaving Bagnall church.

Due to on going computer problems and work commitments, the Leek daily photo, will be posted every other day for the coming few weeks (i won't be changing the name as "the Leek every other day, if the computer work, photo blog" is a bit of a mouth full.

All the fun of the fair

The Chestnut queen relaxing on the swing boats after all the ceremonies have finished.

New Queens procession

The New Queen and her retinue head down the village street.