Sign for the Old John Peel Inn

Image: © Maigheach-gheal Taken: 26 Mar 2010

John Peel (1776-1854) was a famous huntsman who lived in Caldbeck, Cumbria. He had a pack of successful hounds and used to follow the hunt on foot. He is forever immortalised in the famous song 'D'ye ken John Peel' (Do you know John Peel) which was written by his friend and fellow Cumbrian William Woodcock Graves. D'ye ken John Peel with his coat so gay, D'ye ken John Peel at the break of the day, D'ye ken John Peel when he's far, far away, With his hounds and his horn in the morning? Chorus For the sound of his horn brought me from my bed, And the cry of his hounds which he oft-times led; Peel's view halloo would awaken the dead, Or the fox from his lair in the morning. Yes, I ken John Peel and Ruby too! Ranter and Ringwood, Bellman and True, From a find to a check, from a check to a view, From a view to a death in the morning. Then here's to John Peel from my heart and soul, Let's drink to his health, let's finish the bowl, We'll follow John Peel thro' fair and thro' foul, If we want a good hunt in the morning. D'ye ken John Peel with his coat so gay? He lived at Troutbeck once on a day; Now he has gone far, far, far away; We shall ne'er hear his voice in the morning. John is buried at Caldbeck church along with his wife laid beside him and 11 of their 13 children.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0