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Rhyme & History
The words of the
Nursery Rhyme, 'Lucy
Lockett' were based on
people and places in
London during the
1700's. Lucy Lockett was
believed to be a barmaid
at the Cock public House
in Fleet Street, London.
This pub, or alehouse
was first established in
1554 and rebuilt in
1888. Samuel Pepys
mentioned the Cock
Alehouse in his diary
which stated:
April 23 1668
"To the Cock Alehouse
and drank and eat a
lobster, and sang..."
Kitty Fisher was a
famous courtesan -
Catherine Maria
('Kitty') Fisher (died
1767). Her lifestyle was
described as follows:
"She lives in the
greatest possible
splendor, spends twelve
thousand pounds a year,
and she is the first of
her social class to
employ liveried
servants..."
The Pocket referred to
was the old Middle
English word for a pouch
or a small bag. The
implication is that poor
Lucy Lockett made very
little money as opposed
to the similarly
employed Kitty who was
envied for her great
beauty and vast wealth!
Our grateful thanks go
to Jenny Armstrong for
reminding us of this old
rhyme
and suggesting the
possible origins -
Thanks Jenny! |
