Lowdham (SK6646), Nottinghamshire
C.Brown (1891)
Cornelius Brown (Auth.)
A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
London: Elliot Stock, 1891, pp.265-280
The chapter on "Legend, tradition and anecdote" lists the following contents;
"Robin Hood and his Band - Ballads of the Period - The Gothamites - The King and
the Miller of Mansfield - Ancient Instruments of Torture - The Plough
Bullocks - 'Riding the Stang' - The Fair Maid of Clifton - St. Catherine's Well
at Newark - Nan Scott's Chamber at Holme - Dick Turpin and his Accomplice - The
Poets of the Newark Sieges - Hercules Clay and his Dream."
The piece on Plough Monday, Plough Bullocks says; "The writer has a distinct
recollection of a party of them visiting his father's house at night adorned
with paint and feathers, and performing a play. [This would be Lowdham, Notts.]
He then refers to a play given by W.Hone (1837), but gives the cast as; [an
Introducer], Plough Bullock, Turkish Knight, St. George, Doctor, Old Squire, Hub
Bub, and the Box Holder.
This account has been much quoted by later authors, sometimes giving the
erroneous impression that the play described came from Notts.
Nottingham Journal (1941a)
[Anon.] (Auth.)
Tom Fool and Beelzebub: PLOUGH MONDAY PLAYS IN NOTTS.?
Nottingham Journal,
10th Jan.1941, No.35888, p.3c
General article describing plough plays in Nottinghamshire,
including the following paragraphs:
"The Notts. villages where the
text of such plays is still preserved
are Scarrington, Farnsfield,
Bothamsall, Lowdham, Cropwell
Bishop, Blidworth, Norwell and
Thorney."
"The last performance of a play
recalled by Mr. E.E.Neale, of the
Notts. Rural Community Council,
was at Cropwell Bishop in 1938."
The words of the final song at Blidworth are quoted.
E.Bryson (1984)
Emrys Bryson (Auth.)
It's devil of a lark for Plough Monday! [Play revival at Calverton, Notts.]
*Evening Post [Nottingham],
5th Jan.1984, p.6 a-d
Article with on the Calverton, Notts. Plough Monday play revival side,
calling themselves the Calverton Real Ale and Plough Play Preservation Society
(CRAPPPS). Their play, based on a Blidworth version, featured the characters;
Tom Fool, Recruiting Sergeant, Farmer's Man, Lady Bright and Gay, Dame Jane,
Doctor, Ribboner, Threshing Blade, Sankey Benny and Beelzebub. Detailed
itineraries are given, covering Calverton, Blidworth, Epperstone, Woodborough,
Lambley, Lowdham and Oxton. A photo of the 1979 play shows four characters
collecting money from the audience. Background information on Plough Monday
mentions Plough-Lights and Plough Trailing by Plough Bullocks. There is a
quotation from the Gentleman's Magazine for 1672 relating to malicious
ploughing.
Trader Pictorial [Newark] (2004)
[Anon.] (Auth.)
Reviving ancient tradition
Trader Pictorial [Newark],
7th Jan.2004, No.1189, p.2a-6
Large colour photo of the Muskham Pinkies, who had revived
the plough boys' play from North Muskham, Notts., also performing
at Norwell and Bathley. The original play had ceased at the start
of second world war. The caption lists cast members Simon Simcox,
Paul Cotter, David Haslam, Ian Harrison and Jeff Hannabuss. The
accompanying article mentions the incident of 1597 when the plough
boys ran a furrow across the churchyard.
Performances by the Calverton Real Ale and Plough Play Preservation Society
are also listed for Calverton, Farnsfield, Epperstone, Lambley,
Lowdham, Hoveringham, and Woodborough.
Newark Advertiser (2004a)
[Anon.] (Auth.)
REVIEWS: Plough play revived [North Muskham, Notts.]
Newark Advertiser,
9th Jan.2004, Vol.155, No.7931, p.Arts.10d-f
Article and two colour photos of the revival by the Muskham Pinkies
of the ploughboys' play from North Muskham, Notts, also performed at
Norwell and Bathley. The original tradition stopped at the start of
the second world war. The captions list the following cast members:
David Haslam, Dan Harrison, Simon Simcox, Paul Cotter, Keith Baines,
Paul Lane, and Jeff Hannabus.
Performances by the Calverton Real Ale and Plough Play Preservation Society
are listed for Farnsfield, Epperstone, Lambley, Lowdham, Hoveringham,
Woodborough, and Calverton. Morris dancers performing after a Plough Sunday
service at Morton, Notts., are also mentioned.
* indicates data that not yet been validated against the original source and/or has yet to be completely indexed.
|
