Rawcliffe Nr Goole, Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown

Image: © Gordon Kneale Brooke Taken: 15 Feb 2006

James Hirst (Jemmy Hirst) was an eccentric character who resided in Rawcliffe. He was born in Rawcliffe in 1738, the son of a farmer. As a young man he spent most of his time training one of his father's bulls as a mount for riding. He wore a red coat with blue sleeves, harlequin breeches, a glossy waistcoat made of drakes feathers' and a lambskin hat, a full three yards in circumference. King George III summoned Jemmy to London after hearing of him, and eventually he went, travelling down, of course, in his wickerwork carriage pulled by Jupiter, his bull. He had his coffin made before he died. It had glass panelled doors and a bell fitted for him to ring for help. He was 91 when he died on 29th October 1829 and in his will he left £12 for 12 old maids to carry him to his grave, with £5 for a piper and a fiddler to play him to the churchyard.

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