Unfashionable rhymes that reflected the times C

HILDREN no longer learn nursery rhymes, according to Ofsted, which is a shame because they have been used by generations for fun and to teach youngsters to read.

My grandchildren have all had colourful illustrated books telling the tales of Pop Goes The Weasel, Mary Mary, Quite Contrary and all the other colourful characters.

It’s just as well they didn’t know the true stories behind them that include poverty, persecution and illegitimacy.

Pop was slang for pawning and a weasel was a coat. The money raised could be spent down the City Road in the Eagle pub.

Queen Mary was exceptionally contrary when it came to religion and persecuted Protestants.

Her garden was a reference to the graveyards she created, while silver bells were thumb screws and cockleshells were believed to be an instrument of torture that was attached to the male genitals. Gentlemen may wince now.

Ladybird, Ladybird and Goosey, Goosey Gander refer to Catholics and priests who were similarly hunted down and killed under a Protestant monarch.

What a rich and wonderful heritage we have of being a tolerant society.

Humpty Dumpty was a cannon used in the Civil War, Baa Baa Black Sheep referred to a medieval wool tax, Georgie Porgie was the Prince Regent, who became George IV, an obese royal of more than 17 stone with a waist of 50 inches, who nonetheless liked the ladies.

The Mulberry Bush was a tree that women walked round in the exercise yard of the female section of Wakefield Prison, Lucy Lockett is a poem about two famous 18th century prostitutes, Ring a Ring of Roses is believed to have originated from the days of the bubonic plague. Jack and Jill could refer to an attempt to reform the tax on liquid measures, although a Somerset village claims it is about a young unmarried couple who used the hill for trysts. A rock fell on Jack and killed him and Jill died shortly after while giving birth to their love child.

Oranges and Lemons follows a condemned man on his way to execution past London churches until he ascends the scaffold: Here comes a chopper, to chop off your head!

Victorians were so shocked by the content that they founded the British Society for Nursery Rhyme Reform to rid them of unsavoury elements.

The Victorians were so shocked by the content that they founded the British Society for Nursery Rhyme Reform

Among offending topics they So think on, next time you read a listed 21 cases of death from bedtime nursery rhyme to your choking to decapitation. little ones.