Pastyme With Good Companye

Post details: Robert Stephen Hawker - And His Cats

06/05/07

12:35:44 am, by

, 147 words

Categories: British History, Religion and Spirituality

Robert Stephen Hawker - And His Cats

Robert Stephen Hawker 3 December 1803 – 15 August 1875

Robert Stephen Hawker was an idiosyncratic poet, and antiquary who lived in Cornwall during the 19th century.

When attending church, Hawker was usually accompanied by nine or ten cat, which entered the chancel with him, and played around during the service. Whilst saying prayers Hawker would pat, and stroke his kitties, and give them a scratch under their chins.

He normally would bring all ten cats with him until one was found to have killed a mouse during Sunday service. This cat was excommunicated, and banned from going to church with him.

Meow!

Source: Let Them Eat Cake! (1994) By Geoffrey Regan

Comments:

Comment from: MsDemmie [Visitor]

· http://msdemmie.wordpress.com/

The Rev Hawkers Hut is about half a mile along the cliff top from where we live. It is said that he used to write his poetry and sermons there.

He is also credited with initiating and formalising Harvest Festivals in this country.

Morwenstow is the next village along the coast from us - it has a striking church and there is now a wonderful tea room in the Old Rectory that serves the most scrumptious cream teas.

There is a photograph of the hut here :-

http://telematics.ex.ac.uk/realcornwall/foodanddrink/display_image.asp?id=32&topic=Farming

Permalink 06/10/07 @ 13:11

Comment from: Admin [Member]

· http://www.doubledeckerbuses.org/pastyme/

MsDemmie! That is so cool! Thank you for the link!

Permalink 06/10/07 @ 17:50

Welcome to the blog of amateur historians Matthew James Didier and Sue Darroch. Partners in life and in crime, we endeavor to entertain you with snippets from our combined historical research. Past time with good company indeed, as we shall introduce you to Kings and Knaves, Queens and Mistresses, Cons and Heroes, from our collective past......from events well known to those perhaps all but forgotten, we will do our best to bring you interesting historical factoids from around the globe. It is our belief that through understanding our past we will all gain a better perspective on our future.