[Anon. (Auth.)]
*(Stamford)
*Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury, *15th Jan.1858, pp.4b

"The Plough Monday begging was a complete nuisance in Stamford on the 11th inst. There was a much larger number than usual of farm servants, dressed up in fantastic style, with blackened and ochred faces; and their attempts to levy contributions from the tradesmen and other inhabitants were carried on with rude inportunity some of them entering houses and penetrating to the sitting-rooms of the residents. Many of the "plough-witches", as they call themselves are idle vagabonds, and the custom they assume to maintain ought to be "honoured in the breach rather than in the observance."

Locations:	Stamford, Lincs. (TL0207)
Years:	Occurred 1858
Subjects:	Plough Monday; Plough-Witches
Archives:	Ref.: TD00719