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Wath Community Festival
Wath Community Festival was conceived in 1973 by Wath Morris, originally as a 'May Welcoming Ceremony' and, for many years, was organised and run by them
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Saturday 2 May 2009
A traditional annual event 'The Reading of Thomas Tuke's Will' and the 'Throwing of the Buns From the Church Tower' ceremony, is held in remembrance of Thomas Tuke¹, a former resident of Wath, who died in 1810. Among the bequests to the poor of Wath in his Will, he stated that: 'Forty Dozen penny buns to be thrown from Church tower at twelve o'clock on Christmas Day, forever'. It seemed more appropriate to be held in May, so his wishes are now carried out on, or around, May Day. He also left in his will, a penny to every child who attended his funeral; as a result, 600-700 children attended and collected their money.
2009 is the 200th anniversary of the writing of Thomas Tuke's Will, and 2010 the 200th anniversary of his death.
Extract from Wath Parish Register:
Be it remembered that Mr Thomas Tuke bought of Richard Smith, William Smith, William Wood of Swinton & James Roberts of Stubbing Lane two Seats in the Pew No 8 in the Cross Alley the property of Richard Smithson in the year 1779. As witness my hand this 4th day of November 1786 Jn Rowley Vic
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