Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Jane Taylor

This week I’m visiting a nursery rhyme which is special to me in two ways. Firstly, I like it and secondly, it’s the first rhyme that I taught my children actions to. I had no idea of the origin of the nursery rhyme and so began my research.  Initially the rhyme was a poem called The Star by a poet called Jane Taylor.  Naturally I started on my quest to find out more about the author of this well-known verse. 

Jane Taylor was born in 1783 in Lavenham, Suffolk.  She wrote the poem in 1806 whilst living in Shilling Street, Shilling Grange.  When I found out that she was buried in Ongar - just outside greater London, I set out to get a picture of the grave for my blog.  

After catching the tube to Epping, I caught the 21 (bus) to Chipping Ongar. I hadn’t been there before, so I wandered down the High Street trying to find the churchyard. I was a little disappointed when I discovered there were only a few graves there and none of them had her name on.  I think there must be some in the back of the church, but it was all locked up and I had no way of getting in so I missed out on the pic. 

United Reformed Church Ongar

Wandering back up the street, I noticed a sweet shop on the other side of the road and crossed to investigate. Mr Grumpy’s Old Fashioned Sweet Shop looked warm and inviting, so I went in - after all, it was only 3 degrees. Luckily for me the sweet shop was a front for Tilly’s Tea Room and I soon ordered a cream tea.  It was just what I needed. The tea was hot and the fruit scone was the most delicious scone I've ever had.  The intimacy of Tilly’s made it possible to hear all of the conversations going on in the room and there was one old geezer that was sprouting about the history of the village.  Apparently he’d lived in the area for God knows how long so I struck up a conversation to see if I could find out how to get into the churchyard. Poor old bugger didn’t have a clue; all he wanted to do was talk about the heritage listed buildings and eat his soup. 

Back on the bus for Epping, I engaged in conversation with another of the locals who was heading my way.  She actually told me that the Taylor family had lived in a house in the area and there was a plaque on the outside of it.  Another missed opportunity and I felt like kicking myself.  The lady whose name is Christine, took my email address and promised to get in contact with me if there was anything coming up where I might snap a pic. Of course, she told me the best time to visit Ongar is in the summer because they have a lot more events and so on. I will return to Chipping Ongar, but it won’t be before this blog is posted.

Jane Taylor passed away at the age of 40 and is buried in an elusive churchyard in Ongar, Essex.  Her works include many poems for children and although I missed out on the pictures, I can still tell you that Once upon a time in 1806 a poet penned a rhyme and although her light has faded, The Star will twinkle forever.

 

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