Pigs

Pig keeping was a major pastime for our ancestors and nowhere more so than in Portsmouth. However people were not particular where they either kept or butchered their animals leading to endless complaints being laid before the local courts. This presentment made against a Thomas Yonge in 1629 is typical: 'killing, scalldinge and dressinge of Hogges in the highe streete pumpe and in consequence a paine is set to all inhabitance of this towne that they doe not scalled any porker in any of the streets belonging to this towne...' Can you imagine someone killing and butchering a pig in the main water supply.