The Folkestone Fiery Serpent And Other Kentish Poems
£25.00
Publisher
Kent County Library.
Place
Maidstone
Date
1977
Synopsis
A selection by c. h. bishop.
Item Description
8vo. 8.25 x 5.75 inches. [iv] + 68 pp. In pictorial limp card wrapper. Some foxing of front and rear edges of wrapper, but otherwise a very good copy. Gift inscription on inside front wrapper. The Folkestone Fiery Serpent was an anonymous folk rhyme which was first published in 1839. It reflects a view of the credulity of the inhabitants of Folkestone, before the days of the railway, cross Channel port and development as a holiday resort, as having a reputation of foolish and illiterate simpletons. It also reflects the traditional rivalry of the town with Dover; in the Cinque Ports Confederation, Folkestone had the status of a limb of Dover. Also included are nine other Kentish poems. These include William the Conqueror and the Kentishmen, in which an armed force of local inhabitants persuade the Conqueror to grant Kent, unique among the counties, her ancient customs and laws. Poems selected by Cecil Henry Bishop (b.1904), local historian.
[Stock No. 30142]
