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A Tale of Old Derbyshire

I’ve come across a few strange and old tales of Derbyshire and have recently found a fascinating book written by Elizabeth Eisenberg called ‘Tales of Old Derbyshire.'

Elizabeth has been collecting stories about the folklore of her native Derbyshire for many years and the following account of the Derbyshire Streakers, along with many others, can be found in full in her book.

The 1775 Winter Race

According to local legend there was once a race run by naked boys (the forerunner to streaking?) every winter in and around villages lying in the north of the county. These annual competitions were thought to have been handed down by the Greeks and it was only the county of Derbyshire that bred men strong enough to take part in them.

In 1775 a Mr. Forrest witnessed one of these races as he was traveling from Chesterfield to Worksop. As he entered the town of Staverly he found that there were crowds of people gathering in the lanes and highways and after enquiring the reason he was told that the naked boys race was about to begin. As he made his way through to the starting point of the race he found four sturdy young men aged around sixteen years and all nearly six feet tall, stark naked and even more surprising apparently oblivious to the icy ground and biting northerly wind. The contestants were to run three miles around the village of Brimington and then back to Stavely. Many bets were placed but in the end a young man called Flaxey Rotherham won by a stride.

Winter (Icy) Race Take Two

A similar race was held on the following day at the village of Whitwell starting at the George Inn. This was a two-mile race run on a circular course around the village. The population of the village at the time was around 700 but the interest in the race was such that the crowd swelled to at least a thousand.

Again the runners did not seem affected by the cold weather, even though it had froze overnight and the nakedness of the competitors did not bring even a blush from any of the spectators, many of whom were women.

This time there were six runners, one of whom was the winner from the previous day’s race, Flaxey Rotherham. He was again triumphant, winning the race this time by six strides. He was immediately hoisted in the air onto the shoulders of the other competitors and began a victory parade around the village which lasted over an hour. Mr. Forrest marvelled 'that the lads were not stricken with mortal cold. Their bodies were steaming and not even a cloak was offered them until the end of the parade which lasted about an hour.’ On their return to the inn, they were each supplied with a large mug of piping hot mulled ale, and were then rubbed down with coarse sacking. After dressing they sat down to a meal which had been specially prepared for them. This consisted of two flat oatcakes spread with honey and topped with best Derbyshire cheese, followed by extra large portions of bull's beef and dessert was great helpings of apple pie and more mulled ale. By this time the whole company was 'singing and joking in a good humoured manner'.

The Ladies Race

But the Naked boys’ races were not the only ‘Streaking Races’ to take place in Derbyshire. Annual races for girls and women (there was no age limit) were held in Derby and surrounding villages in the warmer weather of August. Although the females were allowed to wear one single garment, many of the competitors chose to run totally naked. In Derby, one of these contests took place on August 7th 1735. The contestants were six young women, described in a local newspaper report as 'not incommoded by either clothes or modesty' who ran three times round an area in Derby called Moorfield.

I'm shivering just reading about it!!

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County:  Derbyshire

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