P.T.Millington Collection (1971c)


Version b

Transcription

NEW HOUGHTON (Continued)

Several men in the bar of the Stanton hotel, especially Tom Jones, said
that there should be about fourteen parts. These were obviously mainly
supernumeraries. One was Devil Doubt, although as yet no words have been
collected, neither have the names of the other characters.

NEWTHORPE Notts SK 4846

Recorded from Mrs. Dakin of Newthorpe in December 1971.

The informant stated that a play had been performed until very recently
by boys called Molly Guysers. Characters included Beelzebub and a Doctor.
The last known date of performance was the Christmas of 1970.

PLEASLEY Notts SK 5064

Recorded on the 4th February 1971 from an unknown informant at the White
Swan, Pleasley.

The informant remembered plays performed by participants with blackened
faces and costumes and involving Saint George, a Doctor and possibly Beelzebub.
He was familiar with both the terms Plough Bullocks and Guysers. The
latter probably has something to do with the visits of New Houghton Guysers
to Pleasley, and the former to visiting Mansfield Plough Bullocks, but it is
also probable that Pleasley had a play of its own, but which type cannot yet
be said.

RIPLEY Derby SK 4050

ROY Dyson of the Nottingham Traditional Music Club stated that he had
heard that some form of play was stil1 performed at Ripley (1971) although he
knew no further details.

SELSTON Notts SK 4652

Recorded from the barman of the "Sheepherds Rest" Bagthorpe in January
1971.

The informant described the visits of Bullguysers to the pub at Christmas
in 1970. The boys had blackened faces and wore their coats inside out, and
carried wooden swords. Characters included a First Man, Bullguy, Beelzebub,
Doctor and Molly Mop.

The informant was not sure wuere the Bull Guysers came from, but thought
they came from Brinsley. The characters are more in keeping with the Selston
version.

SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD Notts SK 5059

Recorded from an unnamed informant on the 1st February 1971 at the "Speed
the Plough" Sutton.

The informant remembered taking part in Plough Bullocking on Plough Monday
during his youth. No other information was obtained. Performed circa 1930.

TEVERSAL Notts SK 4861

Recorded on the 1st February 1971 from an unnamed informant in the "Speed
the Plough," Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts.

The informant went Plough Bullocking on Plough Monday as a child. Costumes
included blackened faces, and the performane was not spirited, since money
was the main motive. The only character remembered was tne one played by the
informant :-

  In comes 1, Old Bill Oiler,
  If you don't give me money, I'll bost your boiler.

Performance date would have been about 1930.