mythologyandhistory

Did you know that #Exeter #Cathedral has a #cat door?

The cathedral built in the 14th century, houses an #astronomical #clock.

The original clockwork was greased with animal fat, which attracted vermin.

To combat this, the #bishop allowed a cat to enter the clock room via a #hole in the door.

This hole is also believed to be the origin of the nursery rhyme “Hickory Dickory Dock” (…the mouse ran up the clock…).

#history #catsofmastodon

Aug 1, 2023 at 6:25amWeb
Show thread@faktoiderAug 1, 2023
@mythologyandhistory I love supposed origins of nursery rhymes. They are never correct of course, but I do love them.
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 1, 2023

@faktoider

(As my favourite topics suggest) I'm personally of the belief that a good story is just as valid as proven fact.

:)

Show threadMatt WillemsenAug 1, 2023
@mythologyandhistory Is that door really hickory?
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 2, 2023

@Nonog

You are rightfully asking...and I have no clue! I'll try to find out :)

Show threadMatt WillemsenAug 2, 2023
@mythologyandhistory Has to be. Dickory has been extinct for centuries.
Show threadMandy WatsonAug 1, 2023
@mythologyandhistory oh, the best thing I've read this week... thank you!
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 2, 2023

@MandyCanUDigIt

Cats make everything better :)

(Thank you for the comment!)

Show threadMandy WatsonAug 2, 2023
@mythologyandhistory I totally agree... as does George, our ginger gentleman!
Show threadKevin RussellAug 1, 2023

@mythologyandhistory

Is it made from Hickory?

Show threadNazaniAug 1, 2023
@kevinrns @mythologyandhistory
Great question! That door sure looks like it predates English contact with the Algonquins, which is where the tree name hickory seems to originate. Maybe the rhyme changed over the centuries?
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 1, 2023

@Nazani @kevinrns

That's a really interesting question! I do not actually know. Time for a new rabbithole (cathole?)

Show threadNazaniAug 1, 2023
@mythologyandhistory @kevinrns
I don't have the academic chops to pursue this. This is as far as I got:
"It was first recorded as “’Hickere, Dickere Dock” by Tommy Thumb in his Pretty Song Book collection, 1744, London."
Show threadKevin RussellAug 2, 2023

@Nazani @mythologyandhistory

Thanks so much for enjoying the search for wonderful details rabbit hole. But London.

Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 2, 2023

@Nazani @kevinrns

(I think you are doing a pretty good job of it! I'm not an #academic in the actual sense either.)

That's a nice tidbit!

I've found this video, too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMt764KbWjA

Hickory Dickory Dock nursery rhyme explained

YouTube
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 1, 2023

@kevinrns

Haha I have no idea! Now I need to research it...

Show threadGuy HolmesAug 2, 2023
@mythologyandhistory I might have known that - but I wasn’t aware until now that my cat was using it!
Show threadMr CheesequakeAug 2, 2023
@mythologyandhistory So nice to see this photo of Reddit the other day :)
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 2, 2023

@chris_

I hadn't seen it there, but I'm not surprised!

I mean, it's cats, everyone loves cats.

Show threadSylvie Pool AlvarezAug 3, 2023
@mythologyandhistory Too cool!
Show threadMigratoryBirdAug 4, 2023
@mythologyandhistory The cat probably thinks that this large food container also has a door for humans.
Show threadPeterD 🇩🇪 🇨🇦Aug 5, 2023
@mythologyandhistory
Yes - b/c another Mastodian posted that bit of knowledge. 🙂​
Show threadDeusAug 5, 2023
That’s a really cute story 😊
Show threadSam at BLAGAug 5, 2023
@mythologyandhistory is that the world's first ever cat flap?
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 5, 2023

@blag

I'm not sure how anyone would know if it is the very first 

My instinct says no (I'm sure some farmer needed to let a mouse catcher into the barn or an early enterprising hotelier into a tavern), but who knows!

Show threadSam at BLAGAug 5, 2023
@mythologyandhistory We're way out, a nice history here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_door
Pet door - Wikipedia

Show threadPete BleackleyAug 5, 2023
@mythologyandhistory The words "Hickory dickory dock" are presumably "8 9 10" in the local variant of sheep-score counting.
Show threadmythologyandhistoryAug 6, 2023

@PeteBleackley

Interesting!

There seem to be a lot of explanations around.

Thanks for commenting :)