Country loons waylaid in big city after securing a fee

When innocence meets guile, innocence rarely comes out on top. So it was with the waves of ploughmen and orramen who streamed into Dundee for the twice-yearly feeing market. They spent long months on isolated farms with limited company. They had confidence in their skills and were comfortable among their own people.

But that rural confidence did not survive contact with city dwellers.

The archives of this newspaper are peppered with reports of ploughmen arriving for the market dressed in their holiday clothes, only to retreat robbed, beaten, conned, or scammed by rough women.

One loon whose day started well but ended in pandemonium was young John Bell of Downfield.

In 1877 he secured a fee (a six-month term on a farm) and went for a drink to celebrate.

But as beer was downed, an obstreperous spirit entered Bell. Overcome by the new surroundings and sensations of the city, Bell began to bellow. Like a young bull he sounded off and stamped his feet in High Street until two constables intervened.

They took Bell in hand but as was the Dundee way, a mob soon formed to free the ploughman.

It was led by sailor Alexander Mitchell who urged the “lawless roughs to take the feet from the police”.

Mitchell set an example by kicking the legs of constables Beaton and Cameron.

The mob stoned the police and a rather bemused ploughman all the way to Constitution Road when a full battle broke out between police and the now angry thugs.

Police got the upper hand and Mitchell was later fined £4. The ploughman was fined 10 shillings.

The farm workers were frequently targeted by assorted conmen like card sharps at the feeing markets, when they were likely to have cash in their pockets.

The markets were held in May and October when farmers and workers gathered to agree terms for the following six months.

In 1858 a ploughman could secure a £21 fee. This included a house, meal, milk and potatoes.

By 1914, that had risen to about £40. A grieve could earn £44 and an orraman £28 to £40.

In 1940, when farm workers held out for more cash, a ploughman could command £60 for six months, which equates to £3,299 in today’s money.

He sounded off and stamped his feet in High Street until two constables intervened