| Where: | Carshalton, Surrey starting at The Duke's Head at Wallington Green; ending at The Hope garden on West Street |
| When: | A Saturday in early September |
| Time: | From noon (ish) usually with finale approx 5pm - 7.30 |
The Straw Jack is a harvest celebration held in September at Carshalton in Surrey. Jack is a male figure made from the last straw in the harvest and he perambulates around town in a full days revelry involving drummers and musicians, touring around the local pubs; he even has a special tune! If you’ve seen the Straw Bear at Whittlesea he’s not dissimilar (see entry for Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival). Characters such as the Sweepers, the Corn Dollies and the Reaper Man will be there and if you’re lucky you might get a piece of Jack to take home as a souvenir. Tree hugging takes place on the stretch of walk before arrival at the Hope on West Street! In the past, during the evening Jack was dismantled, bundles of straw were handed around the crowd, and everyone took turns to burn their bundle in a brazier in the beer garden at the Hope, but this no longer takes place due to limited space and safety concerns (thanks to Roy Vickery for this information).
Helpful Hints
Plenty of food and drink are available at the pubs en route – we had a very tasty bowlful of vegetable curry at the Hope. In 2014 when we visited Jack was burned but this is no longer part of the event. Check the website link below to confirm up-to-date venues and timings before you set off as they may be subject to change at short notice!
In 2024 it was on Saturday September 7th- 2025 date is yet to be announced .
Click here for the event website with full details of approximate times and locations : http://www.strawjack.co.uk/
Click here for the Hope listing: https://hopecarshalton.co.uk/Events.html
and here for the Facebook page with details of times etc: https://www.facebook.com/charles.waters.773
Carshalton Straw Jack this year (2011) is on Saturday 3rd Sept 11 not the 10th as mentioned above.
Please see http://www.strawjack.co.uk for updates.
Thanks for alerting me to the date change, Chris! It’s been a little while since I checked the link so I didn’t know about it ’til now – I’ve amended my article accordingly and hopefully anyone planning to go will have followed the link to get more details so will have spotted the change anyway. Wish I could be there this year – it’s on my “to do” list but I can’t make it this time!
Kind Regards,
Averil
GOING THROUGH MY FILES I HAVE A BUNCH OF OLD PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE STRAW JACKS VISIT OUTSIDE THE OLD CARSHALTON LIBRARY IN THE SQUARE….NO DATE I’M AFRAID, BUT A LONG TIME AGO. GET INTOUCH IF YOU WANT THEM.
Hi Pamela,
Your message has come to calendarcustoms rather than direct to the organisers of the Straw Jack- I expect they’d love to have some older photos of the event- you can get in touch with them via https://www.facebook.com/charles.waters.773 and I expect they can find a good home for them!
Best wishes,
Averil
The Strawjack is actually more related to the Jack in the Green of Mayday events than to the Straw Bear of Fenland Plough Monday celebrations. The Jack has no legs and is built round a frame and carried whilst Straw Bear has separate legs and is worn as a costume
Yes, he’s a bit like a fusion of the two!
Some of the people organising and accompanying the Straw Jack are also involved in the Jack in the Green events at Deptford and Hastings. I went again this year and had the honour of taking a turn at carrying the Straw Jack, a fabulous experience although it is both heavy and awkward
You lucky thing – bet it was well worth the effort! It’s a really nice event – we went in 2014 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved Hastings Jack in the Green too – Deptford is still on the “to-do”list for us. So many fab events to look forward to!
This year on Saturday 3rd September it starts at about midday from Dukes Head pub in Wallington Green near Carshalton, For details and times of route check thier website
Thanks Ian- I’m at a wedding on that day this year – hope you can make it!
Anyone going this year,2017 please check their website near to date. At moment is showing start from Racehorse,west Street at 12.00. Normally starts from Dukes Head in Wallington Green
Thanks Ian- I’ve put a note to that effect on calendarcustoms too!
Best wishes,
Averil
Acording to their wbsite they are starting at Dukes Head again this year, but check this nearer to date in case of changes!!
Many thanks Ian! When I checked a few days ago it was still last year’s details up so that’s very helpful- I’ll direct readers to the actual event site to make sure they get the up-to-date info in case it continues to evolve 🙂
Averil
Is Straw Jack 2022 on 3 September? Website obviously a bit out of date. Just hoping it IS happening. Please confirm, as I have mates travelling from afar for this!!!!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your message. Calendarcustoms hasn’t any connection with the organisation of the Straw Jack, we just report when it’s due to happen, and like you I’ve been keeping an eye on their website (which hasn’t been updated) to get this year’s info. They’re often quite near to the due date in making their announcements as I’ve noticed in earlier years, so I expect it will go ahead but can’t confirm for sure, sorry. The only other suggestion I have is that you follow the Facebook link under Helpful Hints and send a message to ask? An earlier post mentions gathering straw for the event so they’re obviously planning for it to happen- fingers crossed!
Best wishes,
Averil
Just to confirm Straw Jack will be going ahead this year, Saturday September the 2nd 2023.
Route to be confirmed.
Thanks Neil- good to have confirmation for the date! I’ll keep an eye out for this year’s route or maybe you could drop me a line when it’s fixed please? All the comments on this site are approved individually by me to reduce spam so don’t worry if they don’t appear immediately on the site, they’ll just be waiting for me to get to them 🙂
Best wishes,
Averil