1.  Peppercorns used in well-dressing, detail of Children’s Well, Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire, 25 July 2015.

2. [1940s] Rub pepper into the gums to cure toothache – with the pepper in our mouth it made us forget about the toothache! [Tregaer, Monmouthshire, October 2013].

3. For constipation: ground black pepper. Presumably on food. Remedy from Poland [Natural History Museum, May 2003].

4. My grandmother, wife of a farm labourer, was resting in her cottage after a hard day’s potato picking. A gypsy knocked and asked for food. Gran gave her a little of what she had, apologising for not rising as her legs were hurting (she was 58). The gypsy said swallow a peppercorn every morning, you will never get pain again. She did this every morning until she died at 92. So did my mum. She died at 96. Although I am only 61, I follow the tradition and can walk the two miles into town two or three times a week without pain. (I get a taxi back with my shopping) [Ramsgate, Kent, April 1997].