Roughly midway between Earl Shilton and Thurlaston, on the right hand side of the road, there is a small copse. This copse is a recent addition to the countryside and for many years the small hollow in which it stands was known as ' The Porridge Pots'.

No one appeared to have an explanation as to how this name came about, therefore Mitch Irving of The Hinckley Times asked his readers if anyone could shed some light on the matter. The following was one of the replies he received.

Many years ago, before the industrial revolution, when the only means of earning a living, a very meagre living at that, was to work the land from dawn to dusk. Menfolk would have to leave home in the early hours with little to eat until their wives could bring them their main meal of the day. As might be expected by the time this food arrived it would be cold, or at best lukewarm, therefore one enterprising soul found this small depression by the side of a track between Thurlaston and Earl Shilton where she set up a station consisting of a tripod over a fire where she provided simple fare for the field workers a pot of porridge ... hence the name 'The Porridge Pots' came into use.

Although, with the passage of time, the working population became more affluent with less time spent toiling to earn their daily bread and porridge only being eaten at breakfast, many of the young men and women of the area followed the tradition started all those years ago and continued to go to 'The Porridge Pots' to get their oats!

- Ted.

Further Information has recently come to light.

There is a rumour that this particular lady made sufficient money from her endeavours to be able to emigrate with her husband to the colonies, namely America, and open up stalls to sell her 'fast food' to the gold-miners way out west. Many years later their great-great-great-grandsons, Dick and Mac McDonald, opened their first 'fast food' restaurant in 1940, having no doubt been inspired by their enterprising ancestor, Flora McDonald.

- Editor.

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To listen to further tales from the trypewriter of Ted, which include such gripping yarns as:

"The Oak and the Ash" (already a major story just here).
"On the trail of the Lonesome Pine"
"The Pinkhole"
"Albert and the Lion"
"The Old Triangle"
"The Legend of Baron von Silberstein"
"The Book"
"Beacon Hill Walk "
"John O'Dreams "
"A Great Day Out"

then click here.