Fun Monday # 54 Nothing to laugh about!
Sayre has kindly set this week's assignment she says..................
"Every day as I go to work, I see things around me that make me laugh. Usually these are in the forms of signs. So take your camera with you as you go about your business and take a picture of the things that make you laugh along the way (but it doesn't necessarily HAVE to be a sign)".
I took my camera everywhere last week but do you think I saw anything remotely entertaining... zilch!! So come Sunday I was getting desperate and because I couldn't find anything really amusing.....I decided to go with an unusual street name! Embee got roped into driving me to photograph this..... the original sign used to like this....... It is a quiet lane and we walked down to see the rear of some quite large houses that back onto the lane............. no nothing funny!
So let me tell you the reason for this name...............Pitch and Pay Lane might sound a cheerful name reminiscent of children’s games, and fun. . . but it's true story would not have been funny to the people who lived in the area back then!!
The lane was once a little country road centuries before this part of Bristol was developed by rich Victorians.
The odd name recalls dark days when the old city of Bristol was often struck by plagues and epidemics. The City Docks were notoriously filthy and contagious diseases were rife for those living beside what was nothing less than an open sewer.
Bristol’s reputation for disease was so bad that country folk living around the town were always worried about dangers to their health. Whenever a new outbreak occurred, Gloucestershire farmers and smallholders refused to come near the place. They were only prepared to sell their produce at a safe distance from the unhealthy Bristol folk.
So, at this pre-arranged spot, they developed the practice of pitching their produce at the waiting, hungry Bristolians. . . while the citizens paid by throwing back the necessary cash. It was an early example of the quarantine principle - pitching, paying and preventing the spread of disease. Ha , I guess they didn't realise that germs would very likely be passed across on the money!!
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One thing I did see when I was out was this notice, written in Polish.......... the literal translation, according to my google search is 'rooms until hire' which I found mildly amusing as we would say 'rooms to let'~ maybe that's why the place looked empty!!!
Sorry I couldn't follow the rules on this one, I bet tomorrow I will see something that would be a lot more entertaining!
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43 Comments:
Love the story that goes with that sign, very interesting to know the history around where you live :)
That's fascinating! I love knowing the history behind interesting signs like that! I can't see the second picture though Chris.
Angela I'm not sure why the second picture won't load it coming up on mine (it was an old one I found on the internet of the old road sign!)
An interesting piece of history. Interesting that they knew that the plague came from being close....but didn't realize that money could transmit (grin).
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The pictures(The 2 below the old sign) did not come up on my PUDAH either but then i right clicked the mouse and selected 'show picture' and up it came.....I Love pitch and pay although NOW it would be 'pay and pitch' or 'pitch now pay later'
xox eve xox
P.s.-thanks for your comments.Like you say-it feeds my addiction
I loved the story. It painted its own pictures.
All yours showed up for me!
That's an interesting story!
That polish sign made me smile too!
I'm impressed that you were able to dig up the origins of the street name. Oh, I also had a look at your '03 escape photo on the sands--enticing
Pitch and Pay would have a totally different meaning here in the land of Baseball. I was envisioning either a pitching arena or a toll road where you throw your money into a bin in order to drive on the road. Thanks for the story!
Perhaps that polish sign means they won't rent you a room until you have a job????
An interesting tale Chris, nowhere has more history than the UK.
Cool history behind the signs!
wow. the pitch and pay lane is fascinating. a lot of the fun mondays today are very funny, but so far i like yours the best!
i love those secret little stories of history...the really human stories.
I think You so followed the rules...Love the history lesson!!!! very interesting I say!!
That is a funny name but not as funny as these towns in NC!
Cheeks, Climax! :D (True names!)
Interesting story. You're right, I just thought it was a cute name!
Lisa
Thanks for the explanation on the pitch and pay. That is very interesting. Have a fun Monday!
Wow, this has been a fun history lesson.
I couldn't follow the rules either. I enjoyed hearing about the history of Pitch and pay.
What an interesting story! I read a book in my book club about plagues a few years ago and it was fascinating to me.
Your area of the world is so much more interesting than mine!
I love historical stories like that. It is wonderful that the name has stayed the same for all these years!! thanks for sharing!
interesting story, chris!
I like the history lesson with the photos. Very interesting.
I always find the absolute perfect thing for Fun Monday on...Tuesday. I don't know why that is.
Your story is very interesting ! I couldn't follow the rules either, lol !
That was a good story.
I didn't play this week because I never see anything funny (on signs) around here.
Terrific post, Chris. I love learning new things and this is the very best way.
I love the history lesson. So interesting. The last sign is funny.
I couldn't follow the rules either.
Such an interesting story. Pinch and Pay did make me smile!
Oh I think this is my favorite Fun Monday this week, so far! What a fascinating bit of history and thank you so much for sharing it.
Patience
Just goes to show you sometimes there is method to the madness!
And isn't FM made for rules to be broken???
:)
That was really interesting. Grim, but interesting, hee hee.
I don't know if you played by the rules but I enjoyed my Bristol History Lesson! I've not been to Bristol, I must remedy that!
A picture AND a history lesson to boot! What more could you ask?
Love the story with those signs!
I was thinking the same thing about the money!! :)
What a neat history lesson! I wonder how many were puzzled when they did fall ill. Yeah, soak that money before you touch it.
interesting story behind that sign. when i first saw it, i thought it was a game or something -- a throwing game with coins, maybe.
the polish sign is also amusing!
isn't it the truth though that when you go LOOKING for something funny, it's never there!
Very interesting history story. Thanks. I enjoyed it. :D
I could see them ... very interesting post!
That´s a very interesting post,Chris!
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS. I CANNOT RESPOND INDIVIDUALLY BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR VISITS :)
All those germy coins going back and forth!
Great story behind the pics! Very interesting indeed!
Thanks for sharing!
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