Holy Cross Convent, Wimbledon: Playground
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| Partial / Incomplete Date | c.1940 |
|---|---|
| Area | Wimbledon |
| Picture Reference | Wim_32_4-3 |
| Original Format | Photo |
| Notes / History | This Southey Road school was run by Roman Catholic nuns. A member of the teaching staff is just visible amongst the circle of children. Some children’s games performed “in the round” are reputed to have more sinister origins – for instance “ring-a ring o’ roses,” which some say stems from the Medieval tradition of carrying “posies” of flowers to ward off the Black Death. The line from the rhyme, “A-tishoo, A-tishoo we all fall down”, refers to the coughing and spluttering of plague victims before death. However, most historians dispute this myth, and think the rhyme was written well after the plague. |
