Lincolnshire's Poacher Country

Special interests: Churches
Special interests: Crafts and antiques
Special interests: Famous people
Special interests: History
Special interests: Mills
Special interests: Raf heritage
Special interests: Wolds
You are on the Special interests : Yellowbelly page

THE LINCOLNSHIRE YELLOW BELLY


Below are some of the definitions from which it is thought that the term of Lincolnshire Yellow Belly derives. Choose your favourite!

  • The prevalence of a large number of frogs in the Fens.

  • Fenland dwellers became so much subject to ague that their skins developed a yellowish tint.

  • The labourers employed on Fenland reclamation became covered with yellow clay.

  • Lincolnshire county families invariably used coaches, the bellies of which were painted a bright yellow so that the vehicles were not unduly marked when passing over the muddy and clayey roads of those days.

  • The Colours carried by the Lincolnshire Regiment were all yellow ground with the red cross of St. George. The Regimental colours remained yellow until 1881 and from this came the nickname of Yeller Belly. For further information about the Tenth of Foot Regiment, American contingent, click here.

  • Many years ago the Lincolnshire Regiment uniform included a tunic with a yellow front.

  • When water covered the Fenlands the bellies of the water fowl were yellowed by the muddy water.

  • Country women who visited the Lincolnshire markets carried their money (usually gold) in purses beneath their dresses.

  • The Warty or Great Crested Newt with its yellow belly was commonplace in the Fens of Lincolnshire.


The Lincolnshire Poacher's Song

When I was bound apprentice in famous Lincolnshire,
Full well I served my master for more than seven years.
Till I took up to poaching, as you shall quickly hear.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.

As me and my companions were setting of a snare,
'Twas then we spied the gamekeeper, for him we dld not care.
Far we can wrestle and fight, my boys and jump out anywhere.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.

As me and my companions were setting four or five,
And taking on 'em up again, we caught a hare alive,
We took a hare alive my boys, and through the woods did steer.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.

I threw him on my shoulder and then we trudged home,
We took him to a neighbour's house, and sold him for a crown.
We sold him for a crown, my boys, but I did not tell you where.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.

Success to ev'ry gentleman that lives in Lincolnshire.
Success to every poacher that wants to sell a hare.
Bad luck to ev'ry gamekeeper that will not sell his deer.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.

Recreation of the Tenth of Foot Regiment - by kind permission of His Majesty's Tenth of Foot American Contingent
Tenth of Foot Regiment Badge
Recreation of the Tenth of Foot Regiment - by kind permission of His Majesty's Tenth of Foot American Contingent
Recreation of the Tenth of Foot Regiment - by kind permission of His Majesty's Tenth of Foot American Contingent
Recreation of the Tenth of Foot Regiment - by kind permission of His Majesty's Tenth of Foot American Contingent
Great Crested Spotted Newt
Recreation of the Tenth of Foot Regiment - by kind permission of His Majesty's Tenth of Foot American Contingent
Recreation of the Tenth of Foot Regiment - by kind permission of His Majesty's Tenth of Foot American Contingent