Leisure in Victorian Kelvedon Hatch.
What did the inhabitants of Kelvedon Hatch do in their spare time during the 1870s? A look at the local papers give some ideas. Of course not all events were reported, especially the popular culture of the agricultural labourers, the newspapers were aimed towards a middle class readership and their ideas and values.
For the working class, much of their leisure time was concentrated on the public house which was the centre of entertainment in the parish. Drinking, especially beer and ales, was a tradition in the working classes and as a result drunkenness was widespread.
New from the past: DRUNK AGAIN
John Jarvis, labourer, Kelvedon Hatch, was charged with being drunk and refusing to quit the Eagle Public House when requested by the land-lord, Mr Norris, on the 24th June. Fined 2s 6d. and 7s. costs imposed.
Essex Times 10/7/1875
The Ongar Fair and Athletic Sports was a yearly event which attracted a number of critics over the years because of the behaviour of certain elements of the crowd - no doubt through drink. The organisers, however, continued with the event which, from the numbers that attended, proved to be very popular with over 7000 people attending. The events included walking and running races, throwing a cricket ball and pony racing. Many parishioners from Kelvedon Hatch took part in the events and the children were given the day off school.
To the north of Kelvedon Common behind Coppice Wood was a rifle range. The butts were on the outskirts of Poles Wood and the stands were in the parish of Stondon Massey, near Chivers Farm. The rifle range was used by the local Volunteer Corps which had been founded in 1859.
Harvest home was an opportunity for the landowners to reward their servants and estate workers for their hard work. A paternalistic attitude which was to change upon the onset of the agricultural depression and the rise in trade unionism amongst agricultural workers.
News from the past: HARVEST HOME AT BRIZES
The annual harvest festival of labourers and servants in the employ of Mr. J. Royds, of Brizes, was held on the 31st ult. when a large company assembled to take part in the proceedings [...] the principle feature of the programme was a cricket match. At the conclusion of the match about 50 of the men employed by Mr. Royds sat down to a substantial dinner [...] a fine sheep was killed for the occasion, and the tables were piled high with mounds of beef, mutton, vegetables and puddings, the foaming tankard of the favourite beverage not being forgotten [...] after the meal the cloth was removed and toasts and songs were the order of the day. The festivities were continued far into the night, when the men quietly departed to their homes.
Essex Times 9/9/1871
For the gentry and middle classes there was shooting, hunting, coursing, horse racing on Navestock Side and trips to Ongar or Brentwood for concerts, music halls or for skating.