The Little Swan Maiden

Story & Activities Tony Cranston

The Little Swan Maiden

Story & Activities Tony Cranston

The History of Fairlop Waters and the Fairlop Oak

To Hainault Forest Queen Anne she did ride, And beheld the beautiful Oak by her side. And after viewing it from the bottom to the top, She said to her court that it was Fair Lop.
The Fairlop Fair Song

The Fairlop Fair from the 1720s to the 1890s was the biggest and often most riotous event in all of London; thirty thousand people reportedly attending the merriment annually on the first friday in July and gathering around the most ancient and famous Fairlop Oak. A remarkable tree which all accounts testify to its size, age and nobility. Reputed to have an age going back as far as the early Christian times, its girth was about twelve feet. It had eleven great arms with a circumference of thirty six feet and a shadow spanning three hundred feet. Age, damage by people and fire ravaged the tree to the extent that by the early eighteenth century it had to be fenced in and a sign was placed there which read: All good foresters are requested not to hurt this old tree, a plaster having been lately applied to his wounds.

On the 25th of June 1805 the tree caught fire after a party of Londoners lit fires beneath and did not put them out properly. This caused some severe damage and then in 1820 the Fairlop Oak was felled in the high winds of that February. By 1827 the only remains of the mighty tree were to be found in the pulpit of Wanstead Church. However part of one of the limbs of the tree was made into a coffin for a certain Mr Daniel Day the founder of the Fairlop Fair. An eccentric craftsman of block and pump from Wapping and who had a small estate near the Fairlop Oak. He conceived the idea to dine with a party of friends and workmen. To this purpose he built a boat with rigging and sail then put it on wheels and set off with a parade from Wapping through Mile End and Bow, Stratford, Ilford and finally to Hainault Forest and the Fairlop Oak. He himself would stand inside the tree and serve his friends with beans and bacon under the tree, before a day of merriments

By 1725 this Bean Feast had become very popular and it grew and grew, becoming the essential event of the year with those attending called The First Friday Fairgoers. The crowds of young and old, rich and poor, took part in games and danced to fiddles, pipes and drums, jack puddings, trumpets and tambourines all fuelled with beer and spirits served from booths. Feasting and entertainments of all kinds; stilt walkers, jugglers, fire breathers and side shows in tents with the likes of bearded lady, the living skeleton and the boy with pink eyes. There were gypsies with crystal balls, jokers in costumes and storytellers with magical tales. It was well understood that if it could happen, it would happen at Fairlop Fair and by six o clock in the evening everyone gathered around the Great Oak to sing The Fairlop Song; one of many songs, legends, customs and tales that that grew up around the fair.

Daniel Day now called The Good Day died at the age of eighty four in 1767 and his tombstone is in Barking churchyard, his coffin made from his beloved Oak. The fair continued and grew into an enormous event that attracted crowds of spectators to watch the boat parade along the way. Traffic jams were often reported as was the occasional drunken brawl that broke out. Attempts were made to stop the fair and all failed, however the fair gradually wound down to an end or perhaps just a pause with new places to walk, play and enjoy as it was always meant to be. Now its your turn, the good people who come and enjoy walking, playing and being in such a beautiful place. It is for you now, to take ownership of, to enjoy and nurture a good feeling here so that the area blossoms and grows into a place worthy to leave for our children.

This chorus is a survivor of a long lost song once popular in the Fairlop area in the early nineteenth century. I have no doubts that it refers to the following tale from an earlier time

The Little Swan Maiden

Watching the sails Along the shore Bringing her dreams Longing for one
1820

It also explains the local custom of making paper boats containing good wishes. You are to make a paper boat, write your wish on the sail and then place it on the lake for good wind, currents and fortune to carry it across to the island. It is said, that if your boat reaches the island in the centre of the lake at Fairlop. Your wish will come true... Jane was the youngest daughter of the Queen of the swan kingdom of the magic isle. She was very beautiful with soft shiny feathers, was very bright and pleased her mother very much. Often she would gather the little paper boats that were sailed across the lake containing the wishes the queen would grant for the good people who made them Reading those wishes made her very curious to see what it would be like to live with and be among those people. One day there was much commotion and bright lights coming from the human world. There was music and bright flags blowing in the light breeze and lots and lots of wishing boats sailing on the water and the little swan begged her mother to be allowed to go and see No! The Swan Queen said. The human world is very disorderly and not the kind of place, for a swan princess likes you Jane the little swan tried pleading and then pouting and then sulking, but no matter what she tried her mother said no. Later that day, Jane slipped out of the palace and sailed across the lake towards the mainland and the human world. As soon as she touched shore she was immediately transformed into a beautiful young girl with soft, soft skin, long, long hair and dark, dark eyes. She followed the pathway past the mighty Fairlop Oak tree towards all the bright lights and people. It was the summer festival time and she was so excited looking in all directions at once to try and see everything. There were stalls and booths and strange entertainers including a funny man who invited people to tie him up with ropes and he would then try to use all his strength to get loose. People were holding hands and moving around each other in circles and she wondered what they were doing. She must have said this out loud for a young boy replied They are dancing of course. Dont you know dancing? No I have never seen it before. No one dances where I come from.

She then saw all the people gather around the splendid oak tree and she heard men and boys womenfolk and young girls say some words but in a funny way and with lots of sounds. To Hainault Forest Queen Anne she did ride, And beheld the beautiful oak by her side; And after viewing it from the bottom to the top, She said to her court, that it was Fair Lop. She noticed her foot was tapping the ground to the sounds around her. Why do my feet want to do this? She asked. Because of the singing and music replied the boy. Dont you have singing or music either? he asked, thinking this was a strange girl, but he liked that he knew things that she did not and he liked the fact that he was teaching her and he especially liked the fact that they were talking together. She pretended that she knew about singing and music, but this was really her first time and she began to sway her arms and turn around and around. You can dance said the boy. Can I really? she asked. Yes, Yes, Yes he said, and bowing towards her he said My name is Damon. With a little curtsy she replied: My name is Jane. And then gently taking her hand he began to dance with her. She held his hand and through it she could feel his heart and knew he was a very kind, she knew also, that he was very lonely. They danced and swirled and laughed, they twisted and jumped and smiled at each other. They danced in and around all the other people and many saw how gracefully she moved. Just then she bumped into a big man who was walking on long legs made of wood. He was carrying a glass of water and some spilled onto her head, throwing her into a panic. She did not know what to do, because being a swan any touch of water was sure to change her back. She began to cry and looking at the boy said I am sorry I have to leave, please look for me again. Then she began to run through the crowds of people who held their hands over their mouths and began to point at her. Her head began to spin and she tried to hide her face with her hands, but as she did she could feel her soft feathers returning. Jane tried desperately to reach the lake but it was too late; her body began to change and she returned to a swan Witch! A witch! Capture the evil swan witch! She was surrounded by people and unable to move she was so afraid. Kill the swan witch An old woman shouted and a big, fat, ugly man drew out a big knife and laughing loudly he raised the knife

Stop! Do not touch that swan! a voice called from among the crowd. Then dashing out the young boy bravely picked up the little swan and held her closely with his hand protecting her head. Then he yelled at them at the top of his voice, scolding them all for having bad hearts. As quickly as his legs could carry him he ran towards the lake, he ran into the water with the swan and told her to swim. Swim my little swan maiden. Swim with all your heart. Swim back to you kingdom! Jane swam fast away and as Damon watched her sail to safety, she opened her wings and looked over her shoulder for some time and called out to her human friend: Damon please come and look for me again. Whenever there is moonlight just wish and I will find you Then she disappeared into the waters and safely back to her kingdom Many, many years went by since that night and the young boy was now a grown man. He had been to many far-away places and seen many things. He was for a time a soldier and was very brave, but wherever he went, he was still very lonely One evening Damon found himself walking around the shores of a little lake. He knew what had brought him here. Memories of that night and the beautiful swan maiden were always with him. He knew he would never be happy without her, but was she real? Did it really happen? After all he was very young, and perhaps she was just a childs dream His heart was sad and he felt very lonely and as he gazed across the lake, he remembered to make a wish Then silently, out of the moonlight, a beautiful little swan Sailed towards him

The Pssh Experiment

Fairlop Waters is home to many different birds, around 110 different species visit the park, notably lapwing, golden plover, yellow hammer, skylark, willow warbler, blackcap and whitethroat. Try this bird call and see what kinds of birds you can attract and what kinds of birds you can hear responding.
Be as still as you can (bet you cant do this) very close to a tree or some bushes so you will be partially hidden. Then call out a rhythmic Pssh Pssh Pssh Pssh Pssh Pssssh They should last about 3 4 seconds and repeat about 4 times and then pause, listening for the response and to see what birds you attract. You can try several different rhythms to see which is best or if one rhythm attracts a particular bird and another pattern another kind. Perhaps you can begin by listening to the rhythms of the birds in your garden or at school or when you go to Fairlop Waters.

Make a Swan Mask

What to do:
Copy template to A4 size and carefully cut out the two strips at the bottom and the one at the right hand side. Cut out the swan outline and carefully cut out the eyes. Attach the strips with glue or sticky tape and make it into one strip and then attach it to each side of the mask to make the back head strap. Attach the last strip to the inside and top of the mask joining it to the back strap. The mask will then be ready to wear and will not fall off. Now you can colour and decorate. Find some picture of swans in your books or with your computer to get some ideas. Head Strap (back) Swan Mask concept: Mei Chun Chan Head Strap (top)

Left Brain? or Right Brain?

Raise your right arm overhead. Did you know your left side of your brain did that? Now raise your left knee up towards your chest. Which side of your brain did that?

New Dance
Create a new dance that the Little Swan Maiden could have danced to at the Fairlop Fair. Call it the Fairlop Hop. Think about how a swan might move when dancing?

The left side of the brain is where all the Logical things are stored.

The right side of your brain is the Creative side.

Make a list of all the things you know and Make a list of all the things you do that they will be in the store room of your brain need some creativity e.g. writing, painting and creating stories. on the left e.g. maths, rules, memories.

Every day we use both sides of the brain and when we do we are happy; clear thinking, smart and healthy. Make a list of all the things you do that require both sides of your brain working together e.g. talking, sports, games, swimming, walking, playing music, dancing, exercise and especially playing.

Follow up:
How did people used to dance in 1820? What kind of clothes did they wear? What kind of music did they have? What kind of instruments did they play? What other types of entertainment did they have?

Variation:
Make some costumes and hats like those worn in the 1800s, create your new dance and perform it together in costume for your classmates, school assembly or family.

Swan Origami
1. 2.

Stand Up Straight
What to do:
Stand up straight, giving yourself plenty of space all around you. Then for one minute, with your eyes closed march up and down on the spot, lifting your knees high and see what happens.

Variation:
Stand up straight and try your best to be completely still. You will see that you cannot, there is always part of you moving, spinning or swaying. See if you can identify your direction.

Rules:
You must not peek and you must not laugh. If you turn left or right, that hip is slightly tighter than the other. If you march straight ahead both hips are tight.

Did you know?

It is impossible for humans to stand completely still.

3.
flip over!

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8.

Swan Mime Routine

This mind-body exercise routine was inspired by The Little Swan Maiden story. It is a beautiful way of retelling the story for assemblies, performances and health and fitness programmes.
The routine will take your body in all its six directions and will strengthen, stretch, promote suppleness and energy. It will clear your mind, help you to focus and work both sides of your brain. You will be happy and your sleep will be deep and restful. Follow the pictures on the next pages closely.

Please only do the exercises slowly, gracefully and as far as comfortable for you and breath slowly and deeply throughout.

The Little Swan Maiden sails silently across the water.

She steps onto the land and is transformed into a beautiful young girl

The Little Swan Maiden is so excited.

She begins to dance this way.

1.

2.

5.

6.

Sit back onto your heels and bring the palms to a prayer position, breathing normally.

Slowly breathing in, bring your right foot forward, raise up onto the back knee and open your arms wide. She looks at all the events on the other side.

Slowly breathe in and return to the centre.

Slowly breathe out and lower the right hand to touch the earth, while raising your left up towards the sky, your upper palm turned out. Suddenly! Some water is spilled on to her head.

She looks at all the pretty people on one side.

She looks up at the moonlight.

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8.

Slowly breathing out, turn to your right with your arms still outstretched.

Slowly breathe in and turn to the centre and then slowly breathe out continuing the movement out to the left.

Slowly breathe in and return back up to the centre, keep a happy smile on your face and arms outstretched, and then slowly breathe out continuing down to the other side, touch the earth and point up to the moon.

Slowly breathe and come up stretching both arms over head, interlocking your fingers and turning your palms upward.

Too Late! The Little Swan Maiden returns to a swan and is captured.

But she is rescued and is cast back into the lake.

9.

10.

Slowly breathing out, curl yourself all the way down onto your knees and heels, bring your arms around to your sides and rest your head down.

Slowly breathe out and bring your right foot forward again, lower your body over your thigh and stretch out your arms to the front.

She sails across the water but then pauses opens her beautiful white feathered wings to look back and calls to her friend on the shore.

Many years later she hears someone making a wish and silently in the moon light a beautiful white swan sails across the water.

11.

12.

Slowly bring your arms down towards your feet and bring them back gracefully like a swan. Open your arms wide and take them over head, pause, then look over your shoulder.

Slowly breathe out and return to your knees and heels with your hands in a prayer position and look beautiful and very happy.

Model: Jasmine Khan

Information
The Little Swan Maiden is part of a series of six Storytelling Resource Books commissioned by Vision Redbridge Leisure and Culture about Fairlop Waters, the largest Country Park located in the London Borough of Redbridge. Fairlop Waters is located on Forest Road Barkingside, Essex, IG6 3HN For more information visit www.redbridge.gov.uk

How to use this book

The books are aimed primarily at KS1 and KS2 but also suitable for all members of the family. Each book contains a Tale of Fairlop Waters together with activities, games and projects to support a range of curriculum subjects. The six stories reflect the mysterious comings and goings both past and present within the area.

About the Author

Tony Cranston is an Award winning writer of childrens stories, with a background in editing and publishing. For more information visit www.tonycranston.co.uk

Tony Cranston May 2012