November 18th, 2025Local history with Natalie Poole
Tin Kettling
The folk custom of ‘tin kettling’ welcomed many newly married couples into rural communities during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
It usually happened after the bride and groom had retired to the place they were going to spend their first night of wedded bliss.
After allowing them enough time to settle down and be comfortable in their marital home, the rowdier youths and younger men and women of the area gathered near the home equipped with kerosene tins, pots, pans, maybe a concertina or anything else that made a lot of noise and serenaded them with one heck of a welcome home.
At that moment in time, they would be beating on their tins and pans, catcalling and often throwing stones onto the roof of the marital residence. This would invariably set the neighbourhood dogs into a barking or howling frenzy which was met with mixed reactions from the wedded couple and their neighbours.
Sometimes, the additional honour by the rowdy revellers during the winter months was having a bag placed over the chimney to smoke the newlyweds out of their home. They would either be happy and see the fun of it all or unhappy because they wanted peace after the nuptials and wedding reception.
A Trentham local recalls tin kettling for Bill and Effie Gillis and how it was cut short unexpectedly.
The younger folk from Coliban and Little Hampton went to the Gillises’ place on the evening of their wedding to give them a welcome home to remember. Bill came out and told them to get going, or he would deal with them.
About a week later, Bill sheepishly requested them to please call again. It was deemed an honour to be given a tin kettling and it also welcomed the newly married couple into the community and signified the community’s acceptance of them as a married couple.
The Horsham Times, October 2, 1942
Tin Kettling – Who originated it? E. H. Webb gives an insight into this time-old tradition that has fallen into obscurity. Even in these trying times the good old habit of tin kettling is still kept up in the country.
“I have never heard of this custom in the city, but the country sticks to it unfailingly. Of course, the tin kettling is only a prelude. The ritual is that when sufficient noise has been made the happy couple invites the serenaders inside for a party!
Then the night is spent in singing and dancing or playing cards among the more stoic tin kettlers. Refreshments are handed round, and in the end, everybody wishes bride and groom long life and happiness. I don’t know when or where the custom originated, but it is certainly as old as.
I remember if my family were attending a wedding, we would save our tin cans, pierce holes in them and string them all together and tie them to the tow ball of the car. The newlyweds would drive away to a rousing performance of the cans as they went down the road and all to the delight of the onlookers. Add to that the endless toilet rolls used to cover the car. My darling brother did both of these to me on my wedding day!”
Image: Tin kettling on Robyn Annear’s blog
From Natalie: On a personal note, I eloped with my current husband. Relatives and friends unaware; no tin kettling for us.
(Ed’s note: My parents were married in Frankston in 1956 and my mother said they were given a very noisy tin kettling.)
