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Bottle kicking a hundred years ago A hundred years ago, as now, thousands of visitors came to see the bottle kicking. Most of them came by special trains to Hallaton station. Members of village families returned home for the day to enjoy the hospitality of relatives, and kitchen tables loaded with food. From time to time, some of the gentry tried to stop the bottle kicking. Once when that happened, the bottle kickers invaded the garden of the Grange on two Easter Mondays running, and rampaged there for over an hour. Another time the rector intervened, and “No pie, no parson” was chalked up all over the village. The rector soon decided to think again.
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Ancient roots Further information |
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Leading bottle-kickers collect the hare pie from the rector; clearly a very serious occasion. Three are wearing knee-breeches, gaiters and boots. |
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Up at Hare Pie Bank the pie, cut into pieces, is about to be tossed into the crowd for scrambling. |
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The Loyal Farmers' Delight Lodge of Oddfellows lead the procession from the church, carrying their banner. The Oddfellows enjoyed a feast at the Fox before going on to the bottle kicking. |
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The scrum has formed and the bottle is on the move. Most players are wearing caps; two of them are even wearing bowler hats. |
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The village blacksmith is about to toss up the first bottle to start the bottle kicking. |
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