Can anyone throw some light upon this please?

[alpinecottage]

I think it's a cheap, early 20th century child's plate.

[Maggie.]

Of course it says SCHOOL - now why didn't we see that!!!

No markings on the back Jan.  Probably on the half we haven't got. 

[Lydart]

I think I'd agree with Alpine, especially considering where its been found .... perhaps it belonged to a witches child Maggie ??     

[Maggie.]

The woman looks oddly dressed doesn't she?  No pointy hat though.

Lydart - don't let where I live sway your judgement on this. 

[Lydart]

 

[Maggie.]

It's an intriguing dig as there are all sorts of different ages of activity.  We have found what may have been an outbuilding with a hole in the flagstone floor, it appears to be a drain hole.  We have lifted the flagstone with the hole and underneath there were seashells so perhaps some sort of food preparation was going on there.  Fairly near here we found this plate.  Whatever has been going on though it is no high status establishment.

[Greensleeves]

I think it's a nursery rhyme plate - and that it shows  Doctor Foster off to Gloucester in a shower of rain, hence the umbrella!

[Maggie.]

......

He stepped in a puddle
Right up to his middle
And never went there again.

I think if it was depicting this event it would show Dr Foster falling into the puddle for more visual impact.  And I still think the teacher/woman is dressed in a very strange way.

Interesting bit on the origins of the rhyme 'Dr Foster' here:-

http://www.rhymes.org.uk/doctor_foster.htm

[groom]

When were umbrellas in the style depicted here, invented? That would give a clue to the date as it obviously couldn't pre- date that.