FLETE HOUSE, DEVON, AND OLD MOTHER HUBBARD'S COTTAGE

                                                                     

I was always told that I was born in 'Flete Castle' though without a silver spoon in my mouth. I was however born in Flete House, which was used as a maternity hospital after the Second World War

FLETE HOUSE

The Flete estate borders on Mothecombe beach on the Erme Estaury

It is also close to Yealmpton, the home of Mother Hubbard's Cottage

"Old Mother Hubbard..."

by Mother Goose
                         
                         Old Mother Hubbard
                         Went to the cupboard
                         To get her poor dog a bone;
                         But when she came there
                         The cupboard was bare,
                         And so the poor dog had none.

                        She went to the baker's
                        To buy him some bread;
                        But when she came back
                        The poor dog was dead.

                        She went to the joiner's
                        To buy him a coffin;
                        But when she came back
                        The poor dog was laughing.

                        She took a clean dish,
                        To get him some tripe;
                        But when she came back
                        He was smoking his pipe.

                        She went to the hatter's
                        To buy him a hat;
                        But when she came back
                        He was feeding the cat.

                        She went to the barber's
                        To buy him a wig;
                        But when she came back
                        He was dancing a jig.

                        She went to the fruiterer's
                        To buy him some fruit;
                        But when she came back
                        He was playing the flute.

                        She went to the tailor's
                        To buy him a coat;
                        But when she came back
                        He was riding a goat.

                        She went to the cobbler's
                        To buy him some shoes;
                        But when she came back
                        He was reading the news.

                        She went to the seamstress
                        To buy him some linen;
                        But when she came back
                        The dog was spinning.

                        She went to the hosier's
                        To buy him some hose;
                        But when she came back
                        He was dressed in his clothes.

                        The dame made a curtsey,
                        The dog made a bow;
                        The dame said, "Your servant,"
                        The dog said, "Bow-wow."