The traditional folk song ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’ is well known throughout Lincolnshire and is considered to be the unofficial county anthem.

It was first printed in York in 1776 and recounts the successful exploits of a group of poachers snaring a hare and avoiding the attentions of the gamekeeper. The tune was adopted by the British Army as a quick march and the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment are known as “the Poachers”

The plaque in the Castle commemorates the song and a Lincolnshire poacher – William Clarke (alias Slenderman) who was hanged at Lincoln Castle on 26th March 1877 for the murder of gamekeeper Henry Walker at Norton Disney.

There are several variations of the lyrics, but the plot remains the same.

When I was bound apprentice in famous Lincolnshire
Full well I served my master for more than seven years
Till I took up to poaching as you shall quickly hear
Oh, ’tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.
As me and my companions was setting out a snare
‘Twas then we spied the gamekeeper, for him we didn’t care
For we can wrestle and fight, my boys, and jump from anywhere
Oh, ’tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.
As me and my companions was setting four or five
And taking them all up again, we caught a hare alive
We caught a hare alive, my boys, and through the woods did steer
Oh, ’tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.
We threw him over my shoulder, boys, and then we trudged home
We took him to a neighbour’s house and sold him for a crown
We sold him for a crown, my boys, but I didn’t tell you where
Oh, ’tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.
Success to every gentleman that lives in Lincolnshire
(Alternative = Bad luck to every magistrate)
Success to every poacher that wants to sell a hare
Bad luck to every gamekeeper that will not sell his deer
Oh, ’tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.