These nostalgic gift sets from the National Railway Museum shop, York, will ensure one of the nation’s favourite nursery rhymes gets passed down to future generations.
“Oh, The Grand Old Duke of York he had 10,000 men,
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again
And when they were up, they were up
And when they were down, they were down
When they were only halfway up they were neither up nor down.”
This well-known English nursery rhyme has been popular for centuries and its wording is apparently proverbial for futile acts of war.
Because the ‘Duke of York’ is a real office, debate has long wrangled over which particular Duke it refers to – could it be Richard Duke of York who was defeated at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460 or King James II, formerly the Duke of York, who marched his troops to Salisbury Plain to ward off his son-in-law William of Orange, only to retreat?
Nobody knows for sure, indeed it could just be a popular satirical verse that has been adapted over the years to suit the leaders of the time.
These lovely Grand Old Duke of York gift sets from the National Railway museum in York will delight the little ones in your life while bringing a nostalgic tear to your eye.
Choose from a four-piece breakfast set (including egg cup) with gift box for £30 or a three- -piece melanine breakfast set in gift book box for £18, or a china mug for £10
Buy a Grand Old Duke of York gift set .