Hopping down in Kent

What did the pickers do when they weren't working?

Video clips © BBC

Many people saw the annual hop to Kent as a 6-week holiday so they wanted to have a great time.

What do you think the atmosphere was like on the hop farm? Do you think you would enjoy it?

If they had the money the adults would go off to the local pub, if not they would make their own fun around the campfire. Sundays were a day off and visitors would come down from London to join in the fun in the countryside.

There were plenty of ways to relax when the work was over.

What do these pictures tell you about the hop-pickers? Would you do any of the same things in your spare time? What has changed and what has stayed the same?

How and why do you think these pictures were made? Who might they have been made for? Do you think they are natural or posed?

Singing was an important part of life in the hop garden.

Hopping Song 1

Now hopping's just beginning,
We've got our time to spend.
We've only come down hopping,
To earn a quid if we can
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now early Monday morning,
The measurer he'll come round.
"Pick your hops all ready,
You'll pick them off the ground.:
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now early Tuesday morning,
The bookie he'll come round
With a bag of money,
He'll flop it on the ground.
Saying, "Do you want some money?"
"Yes sir if you please,
To buy a hock of bacon
And a roll of mouldy cheese".
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

They say all hopping's lousy,
I believe it's true.
Since I've been down hopping,
I've got a chat or two.
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Early Saturday morning,
It is our washing day.
We'll boil 'em in our hopping pot,
And we hang's 'em o'er the ground.
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

I say one, I say two,
No more hopping shall I do.
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Hopping Song 2

Now some say hopping's lousy
I don't believe it's true,
We only go down hopping
To pick a hop or two
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now when I went a hopping,
Hopping down in Kent,
I saw old Mrs Riley,
A-sweeping out her tent
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now every Monday morning,
Just at six o'clock,
You'll hear old hoppers calling:
Get up and boil your pot.
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now Sunday is our washing day,
Don't we wash it clean.
We boil it in our hopping pots
And hang it on the green
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now do you want any money?
Yes, sir, if you please
To buy a hock of bacon,
A pound of mouldy cheese
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now here comes our old measurer,
With his long nose and chin,
With his ten gallon basket,
And don't he pop 'em in!
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now when our old pole-puller,
He does come around,
He says: Come on you dirty ol'hop pickers,
Pick 'em off the ground
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

Now hopping is all over,
All the money spent,
And don't we wish I never,
Went a-hopping down in Kent!
With a tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay.

What do you notice about these two hopping songs? What is the same and what is different? Can you write a song about hop picking?